The Paonia progressive and the Paonia newspaper., 1911-10-19

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until direct orders could reach him
from Paris. Understand, please. that
all these things we're made possible
by the aid and cooperation of dozens.
scores. of agents who were under my
orders; every person who appeared in
that abduction was working at my d.
rection. The ambassadors unexpect-
ed escape disarranged our plans: but
he was taken out of the embassy by
force the second time under your
very eyes. The darkness which made
this possible was due to the fact that
while you were looking for the switch.
and / was apparently aiding, was hold
Ing my hand over 1t all the time to
keep you from turning on the light
You remember that?"
Mr.. Grimm nodded.
"All the rest of 1t you know" she
concluded wearily. You compelled
me to leave the Venezuelan legation
by your espionage. but in the crowded
hotel to which l moved had little dif-
ficulty avoiding your Mr.. Hastings.
your Mr.. Blair and your Mr. johnson.
so l came and went freely without
your knowledge. The escape OF the
piihSc rum prlSOH you dTTdnBtu, eo
you understand all OF that. as well as
, the meeting and attempted signing OF
the compact. and the rapid recovery
of Senor Alvarez. And. after all. It
was my fault that our plans failed. be-
cause II / had not been-been un-
easy as to your condition and had not
made the mistake of going to the de-
serted little house where you were
prisoner. the plans would have sue
ceeded. the compact been signed"
I'm beginning to understand" said
Mr.. Grimm gravely. and wistful. ten
der look crept into his eyes. IF 1t
had not been for that act of-consid-
Grafton and kindness to me"
we would have succeeded in spite
OF you." explained Isabel I'VE were
afraid of you. Mr.. Grimm. 1t was
compliment to you that we considered
1t necessary to account for your
whereabouts at the time of the sign
ing of the compact"
And If you had succeeded" re-
marked Mr.. Grimm. the whole civi.
liEed world would have come to war"
Il never permitted myself to think
OF II that way" she replied frankly.
Just word Of assurance now"
she went on after a moment The
Latin compact has been definitely
given up; the plan has been dismissed.
thanks to you: the peace of the world
is unbroken. And who am II know
you have wondered: know your
agents have secured the world to find
out ! am the daughter OF a former
Italian ambassador to the Court of St
James. My mother was an English
woman. / was born and received my
early education in England. hence my
perfect knowledge OF that tongue. In
Rome l am. or have been. alas. the
Countess Rosa d'orsetti: now | am an
exile with price on my head. That
is all. except for several years I was
trusted agent of my government.
and a friend OF my queen
She rose and extended both hands
graciously. Mr.. Grimm seized the
slender white fingers and stood with
eyes fixed upon her. Slowly a flush
crept into her pallid cheeks. and she
bowed her head.
Wonderful woman," he said softly.
Il shall ask favor of you now"
she went on gently. Let all this that
ypu ldht pldCt VI
whatever you expected to learn. and
go. Believe me. there can only be one
result If you meet-if you meet the
inventor OF the wireless cap upon
which so much was staked. and SO
much lost" She shuddered little.
then raised the blue-gray eyes be-
seechingly to his face. Please 60"
Col The word Strengthened Mr..
Grimm in his tracks and he allowed
her hands to fall Imply. Suddenly
his face grew hard. In the ecstasy OF
alteration he had momentarily forgot
ten his purpose here. His eyes lost
their ardor; his nerveless hands
dropped beside him.
No." he said.
You must-you must" she urged
gently. Il know what 1t means to
you. You feel 1t your duty to uDravel
the secret of the percussion cap? You
can't; no man can. No one knows
the inventor more intimately than /.
and even l couldn't get 1t from him.
There are no plans for 1t in existence.
and even II there were he would no
more sell them than you would have
accepted fortune at the hands OF
Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. The
compact has failed; you did that. The
agents have scattered-gone to other
duties. That is enough"
NO" said Mr.. Grimm. There was
/ strange fear fearipU af HIS heart