The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-03-01
pecrng some one e1sel T handed my
card to the footman."


card to the footman"
For an instant the blue-gray eyes
opened wide in establishment, and then
some quick, subtle change swept over
Miss Thornes face. She smiled gra-
siously and motioned him to seat.
This is quite different meeting
from the one Senorita Rodriguez had
'~r~~d tent it?" she asked
There was haunting curve on her
scarlet lips; the shadow passed from
her eyes; her slim, white hands lay
idly in her lap Mr.. Grimm regarded
her refectively. There was a determ-
nation of steel back of this charming
exterior; there was an indomitable
will, keen brain. and all of wom-
ans intuition to reckon with. She
was silent, with a questioning upward
slant of her arched brows.
81 am not mistaken in assuming that
you are a secret agent Of the Italian
government, am II" he queried finally.
mo" she responded readily.
I'm that event may speak with per-
feet frankness?" he went on. 1T
would be as useless as 1t would be
absurd to approach the matter in any
other manner?" 1t was a question.
Miss Thorne was still smiling, but
again the vague, indefinable shadow,
momentarily lifted, darkened her eyes.
you may be frank, of course she
said pleasantly. please go on
"Senor Alvarez was shot at the
German embassy ball last night" Mr..
Grimm told her.
Miss Thorne nodded, as If in won
der.
did you, or did you not, shoot
him?'
It was quite casual She received
the question without change of coun-
tenance, but involuntarily she caught
her breath 1t might have been a sigh
of relief
"Why do you come to me with such
query?" she asked in turn.
81 beg your pardon" interposed Mr..
Grimm, steadily. did you, or did you
not, shoot him."
mo, of course I didn't shoot him."
! was the reply. If there was any emo
ton in the tone 1t was merely impa-
tience why do you come to me?"
she repeated.
why do l come to your" Mr.. Grimm
echoed the question, while his listless
eyes rested on her face. Il will be
absolutely frank, as | feel sure you
would be under the same circum-
stances" He paused a moment; she
nodded. WELL Immediately after the
shooting you ran along the hallway
with a revolver in your hand you ran
down the steps into the kitchen, and
out through the back door, where you
entered an automobile. That is not
conjecture; 1t is susceptible of proof
by eye witnesses"
Miss Thorne rose suddenly with a
queer, helpless little gesture of her
arms, and walked TO the window. She
stood there for long time with her
hands clasped behind her back
THAT brings us to another ques-
tion," Mr.. Grimm continued merciless
ly. '1f you did not shoot Senior AL
varez, do you know who did,"
There was another long pause.
81 want to believe you, Miss
Thorne," he supplemented.
She turned quickly with something
Of defiance in her attitude.
Yes, l know" she said slowly. ut
were useless to deny It,"
who was it2' ..gsi
81 won't tell you"
Mr.. Grimm leaned forward in his
chair, and spoke earnestly.
Understand, please, that by that
answer you assume equal guilt with
the person who actually did the
shooting" he explained IF you ad-
here to it you compel me to regard
you as an accomplice." His question.
ing took different line. will you ex.
plain how the revolver came into your
possession"
ooh, II picked it up in the hall
way there" she replied vaguely.
81 want to believe you, Miss
Thorne," Mr. Grimm said again.
You may. | picked it up in the
hallway" she repeated. 81 saw 1t ly-
ing there and picked it up"
why that, instead of giving an
alarm"
mo alarm was necessary. The shot
| itself was an alarm"
"Then why" Mr.. Grimm persisted
| coldly, did you run along the hall
way and escape by way of the ktch-
en-? If you did not do the shooting,
| why the necessity of escape. carrying
the revolyer?"
There was that in the bue-gray
eyes which brought Mr.. Grimm to his
feet His hands gripped each other
cruelty; his tone was calm as always.
"Why did you take the revolver"
he asked.
Miss Thorne's head dropped for
ward little, and she was silent.
| There are only two possibilities, OF
course" he went on. First, that you
in spite of your denial, did the shoot
ing"
81 did mott" The words fairly burst
/ from her tightly closed lips.
"Or that you knew the revolver, and