The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1911-11-24

crackle of paper. At first he didn't
understand. then he knew that the
woman had pinned a paper to the
lapel OF his coat. Finally she straight
ened up. and took two steps away
from him, after which came a pause.
His keenly attuned ears caught her
faint breathing, then the rustic of her
skirts as she turned back. She was
leaning over him again-her lips
touched his forehead, barely; again
there was a quick rustling of skirts,
the door creaked, and-silence, deep.
oppressive. overwhelming silence.
Isabel! Was he dreaming? And
then he ceased wondering and fell to
remembering her kiss-light as air.
and the softly spoken Thank God!"
She did care. thenl She had under
stood. that day!
The kiss of a woman beloved Is a
splendid heart tonic. Mr., Grimm
Strengthened up suddenly on the
couch, himself again. He touched the
slip OF paper which she had pinned to
his coat to make sure it was not all a
dream, after which he recalled the
fact that while he had heard the door
creak before she went out he had not
heard It creak a~fterward. Therefore.
the door was open. She had left it
open. Purposely? That was beside
the question at the moment.
And why-how-was she in Wash.
lngton? Pondering that question, MI.
Grimm's excellent teeth clicked sharp
ly together and he rose. He knew the
answer. The compact was to be
slgned-the alliance which would ar
ray the civilized world in arms. He
had failed to block that, as he thought.
II Miss Thorne had returned then
Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi, who heli
absolute power to sign the compac,
for Italy, France and Spain, had also
returned.
Stealthily feeling his way as he
went, Mr.. Grimm moved toward the
o leading to freedom, guided by
the fresh draft of air. He reached
the door-it was standing open-and
a moment later stepped u into the
star-lit night. 1t was open country
here. with a thread of white road Just
ahead, and farther along a fringe OF
shrubbery. Mr.. Grimm reached the
road. Far down it, a pin point in the
night, a light flickered through inter
1acing branches. The tail lamp of an
automobile, of course!
Mr.. Grimm left the road and skirt
a sparse hedge in the direction Of
the light. After a moment he heard
the engine of ar automobile, and saw
a woman-barely discernible-step
into the car. AS 1t started forward
he staked everything on one bold
move, and won. his reward being a
narrow sitting space in the rear Of
the car, hidden from its occupants by
the tonneau. One mile, two miles.
three miles they charged through the
night, and still he chung on, At last
came relief.
That's the place, where the lights
are-just ahead"
There was no mistaking that voice
raised above the clamor of the engine.
The car slackened speed, and Mr..
dropped off and darted behind
convenient bushes. And the first
thing he did there was to light a
match. and read what was written on
he slip of paper pinned to his coat
It was, simply:
My Dear Mr.. Grimm:
by the time you read this the com.
oact Will have been signed, and your
efforts to prevent it, splendid as they
futile. 1t is a tribute to you
hat it was unanimously agreed that
must be accounted for at the time
If the signing, hence the drugging in
he restaurant; it was only an act OF
kindness that ! should come here to
see that all was we'll with you, and
cave the door open behind me.
believe me when | say that you
ire one mar in whom | have never
'een disappointed. Accept this as 1Ey
areWel, for now l assume again the I,
and posi- ion ri~ghtfully mine.
md know, too. that shall always
herish the bel. f that you will re.
"l rur friend, ,
rs ABEL THORNE.
"P. S. The priv e and | left the
at MCntauA Point, on 4 tug