The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-08-25
CHAPTER xlIl.-(continued.)

you knew I was here" repeated
dr. Grimm musingly. "And may ID"
Gust as you knew that I, or some
one, at least, had entered this house
few minutes ago." she Interrupted.
The automobile horn outside was a
signal. wasn't It? Hastings was in the
car? Or was it Blair or Johnson?"
Mr.. Grimm did not say.
Didn't you anticipate any person
el danger when you entered?" he
uueried instead. Weren't you afraid
I might shoot?"
NO"
There was a long silence. Mr..
Grimm still sat with his elbows on his
knees, staring at the vague white
spotch which was Miss Thorne's face
and bare neck. One of her white arms
hung at her side like pallid serpent,
and her hand was at rest on the seat
Of the couch.
1T seems, Miss Thorne," he said
ut length casually, that our paths of
duty are inextricably tangled. Twice
previously we have met under cir
cumstances that were more than
strange, and now-this! Whatever in
Justice I may have done you in the
past by my suspicious has, hope,
been forgiven; and in each instance
We were able to work side by side to-
ward a conclusion. am wondering
now If this singular affair will take
similar course"
He paused. Miss Thorne started to
speak, but he silenced her with a
slight gesture of his hand.
1T is only fair to you to say that
we-that is, the Secret Service-have
learned many things about you," he
resumed in the same casual tone. 1--WE
have, through our foreign agents,
traced you step by step from Rome
to Washington. We know that you
are, in way, a representative of a
sovereign of Europe; we know that
you were on a secret mission to the
Spanish court, perhaps for this sover-
eign, and remained in Madrid for a
month; we know that from there you
went to Paris, also on a secret mis-
sior-perhaps the same-and re-
NAMED there for three weeks; we know
that you met diplomatic agents. of
those governments later in London.
We know all this; we know the man.
ner of your coming to this country;
Of your coming to Washington. But
we don't know why you are here"
Again she started to speak, and
again he stopped her.
1--WE don't know your name. but tina,
is Of no consequence. We do know
that in Spain you were Sonora Cas-
savant, in Paris Mademoiselle dAubi
non, in London Miss Jane kellogg
and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We re
alize that exigencies arise in your call
ing, and mine, which make changes o.
name desirable. necessary even, ant
there Is no criticism Of that. Now a.
the representative of your govern
ment-rather government-you hav,
q right to be here, although unaccred
tied; you have a right to remain her,
as long as your acts are consisten
with our laws; you have a right t,
your secrets as long as they do not
directly or indirectly, threaten tn,
welfare Of this country. Now, VIII,
are you here?"
He received no answer; he expecte,
none. After. a moment he went on:
Admitting that you are a secre
agent Of Italy. admitting everythin
that you claim to be, you haven't COZ
vinced me that you are not the perso
who came here for the letters an
| cigarettes. You have said nothing I
prove to my satisfaction that you or
not the individual ! was waiting for ii
n night" ,f S5s.
''You don't mean that You "a,
| Dect-f' she began In tone Of amaz,
Il nent. 81 q
4 don't mean that / suspect a,
Il thing ~ intsrpossd. Il msan mersl
n - 30 aysn't conyinSed d,
Il 1hses spotlfng t1consistsat n 81