The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-03

light filtered through the halfdrawr
velvet hangings and laid family Il
lumined path across the ambassador
desk; the heavy leather chairs were
mere impalpable splotches In the
shadows; the cut-glass knobs OF q
mahogany cabinet caught the CLINT oI
light and reflected It dlmly Outside
was the vague, indefinable night drone
OF city asleep, unbroken by any
sound that was dlstlnguishable, unit
finally there came the distant boom
OF a clock. II struck twice.
Seated on couch In one corner oi
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, II was
that he was listening He had been
there for two hours, wide-awake. and
absolutely motionless. Five ten
fifteen minutes more passed, and then
Mr.. Grimm heard the grind and whir
Of an automobile block or 30 away
coming toward the embassy. Now II
was In front.
"Honk! Hon-on-onk!" II called
plalntively. "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 nolselessly to
the floor. Thus, with his hands on
his knees, and listening, listening with
every faculty strained, he sat motion.
less. peerlng toward the open door
that led into the hall. The car was
gone now, the sound of 1t 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 the
whisper Of wind-stirrtd 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 dazzed Mr. Grimm with
its binding flood. but he didn't move.
Then softly, almost in a whisper:
Good evening, Mr.. Grimm"
1t was woman's voice. pleasant.
unsurpassed. perfectly modulated.
Mr.. Grimm certainly did not expect Il
now, but he knew II instantly-there
was not another quite like II In the
wide. wide world-and though he was
still blinking 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 II she might have been
smiling, and her wonderful eyes re.
flected CLINT of-of-was IL amuse.
ment? The folds of her evening dress
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. II didn't think you
would. Now I'm going to put out tho
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 blazed
brilliantly again.
Just for moment" Miss Thorne
explained to him quietly. and she
handed him sheet of paper II want
you to read this-read II 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 up
indolently, llstlessly, and the switch
snapped. She crossed the room and
sat down; Mr.. Grimm sat beside her.
81 think" Miss Thorne suggested
tentatively, that that accounts per.
fectly Tor Monsieur Boissegur's disap.
pearance."
1T gives one explanation, at least"
Mr.. Grimm assented musingly. Kid
napped-held prisoner-fifty thousand
dollars demanded for his safety and
release" A pause And to whom.
may ask. was this demand ad.
dressed?"
ITO Madame Bolssegur," replied Miss
Thorne. 81 have the envelope in
which 1t came. 1t was mailed at the
general post office at half-past one
o'clock this afternoon. so the cancel.
ing stamp shows. and the envelope
was addressed. as the letter was writ.
ten. on a typewriter"
And how" inquired Mr.. Grimm.
after long pause, how did II come
into your possession?" He waited a
little. why didn't Monsieur Rigolot
report this development to me this
afternoon when | 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 the
darkness. straight into her