The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1910-05-19

Grimm inquired.
mot a soul, Senor." was the
reply.
Mr.. Grimm went over and ex-
amined the windows. They were
both locked inside; and there
were no marks of any sort on the
stills.
They are Just as l left them
last night" explained Senior Rod
riguez. II have not touched them
today"
And there's only one door,"
unused Mr.. Grimm, meaning that
by which they had entered. $50
it would appear that whoever was
here last night entered through
that room. Very we'll"
He walked around the room
once, opening and shutting the
doors of the cabinets as he pass
ed, and finally paused in front of
the safe. A brief examination of
the nickeled dial and handle and
of the enameled edges of the
heavy door satisfied him that no
force had been employed-the
safe had merely been unlocked.
Whereupon he sat himself down,
cross-legged on the floor, in
front of it.
What are the first and second
Figures of the combination? he
asked.
"Thirty-six, then back to ten. :"
Mr.. Grimm set the dial at
thirty-six, and then, with his ear
pressed closely against the polish
ed door, turned the dial slowly
back. Senior Rodriguez stood
looking on helplessly, but none
the less intently. The pointer
read ten, then nine, eight, seven,
five. Mr., Grimm gazed at it
thoughtfully, after which he did
| 1t all over again, placidly and
without haste.
Nov, we'll look inside,
please" he requested, rising.
Senior Rodriguez unlocked the
safe the while Mr.. Grimm re-
lspectfully turned his eyes away,
then pulled the door wide open.
The books had been piled one on
top of another and thrust INTO
various pigeonholes at the ton.
Mr.. Grimm understood that this
disorder was the result of making
room at the bottom for the bulk
of gold, and asked no questions.
Instead, he sat down upon the
floor again.
"The lock on this private COM
partment at the top is broken, .
he remarked after a moment.
Isl, Senor," the diplomat
agreed. Evidently the robbers
were not content with only fifty
thousand dollars in gold-they
imagined that something else OF
value was hidden there"
Was there?" asked Mr.. Grimm
naively. He didn't look around.
Nothing of monetary value"
the senior explained. There were
some important state papers in
there-they are there yet-but nc
money"
None of the papers was stol.
en?"
mo. Senior. There were only
nine packets-they are there yet
Contents all right?"
Eyes. l personally looked them
over"
Mr.. Grimm drew out the pack.
let's of papers, one by one. They
were all unsealed save the last
When he reached for that, Seno,
Rodriguez made a quick, involun
tary motion toward 1t with hi,
hand.
This ones sealed" commented
Mr.. Grimm. 1T doesn't happen
that you opened it and sealed il
lagain?"
Senior Rodriguez stood starine
at him blankly for a moment
then some sudden apprehension
was aroused, for startled lool
came into his eyes, and again he
reached for the packet.
"Dios mio!" he exclaimed. "let
me see. Senor."
Going to open it," asked Mr.
Grimm.
Yes, Senior. I had not thought
of It before"
Mr.. Grimm rose and walked
over to the window where the
light was better. He scrutinized
the sealed packet closely. There
were three red splotches of way
upon 1t, each impressed with the
legation seal; the envelope was
without marks otherwise. He
turned and twisted 1t aimIessly.
and peered seriously at the vari
GUS seals, after which he handle.
it to the frankly impatient diplo.
lmatist.
Senior Rodriguez opened it
with nervous, twitehing fingers.
Mr.. Grimm had turned towarf
the safe again, but he heard the
crackle of parchment as som.
document was drawn out of the
envelope, and then came a deer
sigh of relief. Having satisfied
his sudden fears for the safety OF
the paper, whatever it was, the
senior placed it in another en-
velope and sealed it again with
elaborate care. Mr.. Grimm drop
ped into the swivel chair at the
desk.
"Senor," he inquired pleasant.
ly, your daughter and Miss