The Tupelo journal., 1911-08-18
CHAPTER v.

A Visit to the Count.

The bland serenity Of Mr.. Camp
bells face was disturbed by thin,
ispidery lines of perplexity, and the
stared at the top of his desk. Mr..
Grimm was talking.
From the moment Miss Thorne
turned the corner lost all trace of
her." he said. Either she had an au-
tomobile in waiting, or else she was
lucky enough to find one Immediately
she came out. She did not return to
the embassy ball last night-that
much is certain" He paused ref1ec-
lively. she is a guest of Senorita
Inez Rodriguez at the Venezuelan le
CATION" he added.
"Yes, l know" his chief nodded.
II didn't attempt to see her there
last night for two reasons" MIR.
Grimm continued. First, she can
have no possible knowledge of the
fact that she is suspected, unless per-
haps the man who slammed the
door" He paused. Anyway, she
win not attempt to leave Washington;
/ am confident of that. Again, 1t didn't
seem wise to me to employ the ordi-
nary crude police methods in the case
that is, go to the Venezuelan lega-
Eson and pick up a row."
For a long time Campbell was ST.
lent; the perplexed lines still furroYed
his benevolent forehead,
"The president Is very anxious that
we get to facts In Ills reported Latin
alliance as soon as possible" he said
at last. irrelesantly. HE mentioned
the matter last night, and he has
been keeping In constant communica-
ton with Gault in Lisbon who, how
ever, has o been able to add ma
~terially to the original dispatch. I'm
der all the circumstances. don't you
think 1t would be best for me to re-
iieve you of the investigation of this
shooting affair SO that o can con-
c~entrate on this greater and more i'm
portant thing"
Twill Senior Alvarez die?" asked Mr..
Grimm In turn.
His condition Is serious, although
the wound is not necessarily fatal
was the reply.
Mr.. Grimm arose, stretched his long
legs and stood for a little while gazing
out the window. Finally he turned to
his chief:
What do we know, here In the bu-
reau, about Miss Thorne?"
This far the reports on her are OF
the usual perfunctory nature" Mr..
Campbell explained. He drew a a
from a ~pigeonhole of his desk and
glanced at it. "She arrived in Wash
ington two weeks and two days ago
from New York, off the Lusitania,
from Ii pool. She brought some
sort of Introduction to Count di Ros-
mi, the Italian ambassador, and he OBJ
tanned for her a special invitation to
the state ball, which was held that
night. Until four days age she was
Z guest at the Italian embassy. but
now, as you know. is a guest at TIE
Venezuelan legation. Since her ar.
rival here she has been prominently
pushed forward into society; she has
gone everywhere, and been received
everywhere In the diplomatic set. We
have no knowledge Of her beyond
this"
There was q question in Mr.. Grimm'a
listless eyes as they met those Of the
chief. The same line Of thought wa
stunning in both their minds, born. per
haps, Of the association Of ideas-Italy
rs one of the three great nationi
known to be In the Latin compact;
Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi OF Italy
the secret envoy of three countries
the sudden appearance OF Mist
Thorne at the Italian embassy. Ant
in the mind Of the younger man there
was more than this-a definite knowi
edge OF a message cunningly trans
mitted to Mr.. Rankin Of the German
embassy, by Miss Thorne there in thu
BALLROOM.
"Can you imagine" he asked slow
". "can you imagine a person VIII
would be OF more value to the Latil
government in Washington right =
this stage Of negotiations than q bril-
1isct woman agentt
EHE FM1