The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-08-22

4 iuHineu pain across the ambassadors
desk; the heavy leather chairs were
mere impalpable splotches In the
shadows; the cut-glass knobs OF a
mahogany cabinet caught the CLINT OF
light and reflected II dimly Outside
was the vague. indeflnable night drone
OF city asleep. unbroken by any
sound that was distinguishable. Until
| finally there came the distant boom
OF clock. 1t struck twice.
| Seated on couch in one corner OF
the ambassadors office was Mr..
Grimm. He was leaning against the
high arm of leather. with his feet on
the seat. thoughtfully nursing his
knees. II his attitude indicated any.
thing except sheer comfort. it was
that he was listening. He had been
there for two hours. wide-awake. and
absolutely motionless. Five. ten.
fifteen minutes moro passed, and then
Mr.. Grimm heard the grind and whir
OF an automobile block or 80 away.
coming toward the embassy. Now II
was In front.
"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" II called
plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! Honk!"
The signal! At last! The automo
bile went rushing on, full tilt. while
Mr.. Grimm removed his feet from the
seat and dropped them noiselessly to
the floor. Thus. with his hands on
his knees. and listening, listening with
every faculty strained, he sat motion.
less. peering toward the open door
that led into the hall. The car was
gone now, the sound of II swallowed
up in the distance, still he sat there.
1t was obviously some noise in the
house for which he was waiting.
Minute after minute passed, and
still nothing. There was not even tho
whisper of wind-stirred drapery. He
was about to rise, when. suddenly,
with no other noise than that of the
sharp click OF the switch, the electric
lights in the room blazed up brilliant.
ly The glare dazzled Mr. Grimm with
its binding flood, but he didn't move.
Then softly. almost in whisper:
Good evening. Mr. Grimm"
1t was woman's voice. pleasant,
unsurpassed, perfectly modulated.
Mr.. Grimm certainly did not expect II
now, but he knew 1t instantly-there
was not another quite like IT in the
wide, wide world-and though he was
still blinking a little. he came to his
feet courteously
Good morning, Miss Thorne." he
corrected gravely.
Now his vision was clearing, and he
saw her. a graceful figure, silhouetted
against the rich green of the wall
| draperies. Her lips were curled the
least bit. as If she might have been
smiling. and her wonderful eyes re
Elected a CLINT of-of-was it amuse
fell away from her, and one bare,
white arm was extended. as her hand
still rested on the switch.
And you didn't hear me?" still in
the half-whisper. 81 didn't think you
would. Now I'm going to put out the
lights for an instant. while you pull
the shades down, and then-then we
must have "a conference"
The switch snapped. The lights
died as suddenly as they had been
born. and Mr.. Grimm, moving noise.
lessly, visited each OF the four win.
dows in turn. Then the lights blaze6
brilliantly again.
Just for a moment" Miss Thorne
explained to him quietly. and she
handed him sheet of paper. II want
you to read this-read 1t carefully
then / shall turn out the lights again
They are dangerous. After that we
may discuss the matter at our leis.
ure"
Mr.. Grimm read the paper while
Miss Thorne's eyes questioned his i'm.
passive face. At length he looked ur
indolently, listlessly. and the switch
snapped. She crossed the room and
sat down; Mr.. Grimm sat beside her
II think" Miss Thorne suggested
tentatively. that that accounts per
fectly for Monsieur Boissegurs disap
pearance"
1T gives one explanation, at least
Mr. Grimm assented musingly. kid
napped-held prisoner-flfty thousand
dollars demanded for his safety ana
release" A pause. And to whom.
may l ask. was this demand ad
! dcessed?"
| ITO Madame Boissegur." replied Miss
| Thorne. II have the envelope ib
which 1t came. 1t was mailed at the
general post office at half-past one
o'clock this afternoon. so the cancer
ing stamp shows. and the envelopes
was addressed, as the letter was writ
ten, on typewriter"
And how" inquired Mr.. Grimm.
after long pause. how did II come
into your possession" lie waited 81
little. why didn't Monsieur Rigolot
report this development to me this
afternoon when 1 was here?"
Monsieur Rigolot did not inform
you of 1t because he did not know OF
1t himself" she replied, answering the
last question first. 1T came into my
possession directly from the hands
of Madame Boissegur-she gave 1t to
me-"
"Why?"
Mr.. Grimm was peering through tho
inscrutable darkness. straight into her
/ face-a white daub in the gloom.
Rhapeless, indistinct
: II have known Madame BolsseguT
for half a dozen years" Miss Thorne
continued. in explanation. I'VE have
been friends that long l met her IN
! Toxic. later in Berlin. and within n
few weeks. here in Washington. You
sec | have travelled in the time ]
have been an agent fer my govern
ment Well. Madame Boissegur re
! ceived this letter about halfpast foiu
! o'clock this afternoon: and about naif