The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-08-11

0OOASA>Sse
5orabls rathse than . lucrative one:
10 has no fortune. This girl moved
in . certain sst devoted TO bridge. and
stakes are high. She played and won
ana played and won, and on and on
until her winnings were about eight
thousand dollars. Then luck turned
She began to lose. Her meney want
but she continued is play desperately
Finally some old family jewels were
pawned without her fathers knowl'
edge. and ultimately they were lost
Ono day she awoke to the fact that
she owed some nine or ten thousand
dollars in bridge debts. They were
pressing and there was no way to
meet them. This meant exposure and
utter ruin, and women do strange
things. Mr.. Grimm, to postpone such
an ending to social aspirations. j
know this much is true. for she re
lated 1t all to me herself.
AT last, in some way-a misplaced
letter. perhaps. or word overheard
she learned that fifty thousand dollars
would be in the legation bank over.
night, and evidently she learned the
precise night" She paused a moment,
Here is the address Of man in Bal
timore. Thomas Q. Griswold," and she
passed card to Mr.. Grimm. who sat
motionless, listening. About four
years ago the combination on the lega-
ton safe was changed. This man was
sent here to make the change, there
fore some one besides Senior Rodriguez
does know the combination. l have
communicated with this man today.
for l saw the possibility Of just such
thing as this instead of your steth-
oscope. By trick and forged let
ter this girl obtained the combination
from this man."
Mr.. Grimm drew long breath.
"She intended to take, perhaps. only
what she desperately needed-but at
sight of it aldo you see what must
have been the temptation then? We
get out here"
There were many unanswered ques.
tions in Mr.. Grimm's mind. He re-
pressed them for the time, stepped out
and assisted Miss Thorne to alight.
The carriage had turned out of Penn
sylvania Avenue, and at the moment
he didn't quite place himself. A mar.
row passageway opened before them
evidently the rear entrance to a
house possibly in the next street. Miss
Thorne led the way unhesitatingly,
cautiously unlocked the door, and to-
gether they entered a hall. Then
there was short fight of stairs, and
they stepped into room, one Of a
suite. She closed the door and turned
on the lights.
1.-THE bags of gold are in the next
ROOM" she said with the utmost COM
posture.
Mr.. Grimm dragged them out Of a
dark closet, opened one-there were
ten-and allowed the coins to dribble
through his fingers. Finally he turned
and stared at Miss Thorne, who, pal
lid and weary, stood looking on.
Where are we?" he asked. What
house is this?"
1.-THE Venezuelan legation" she an.
swered. I'VE are standing less than
forty feet from the safe that was
robbed. You see how easy"
"And whose room?" inquired Mr.
Grimm slowly.
Must l answer?" she asked appeal
ingly.
You must"
"Senorita Rodriguez-my hostess!
Don't you see what you've made me
do? She and Mr. Cadwallader made
the trip to Baltimore in his automo
bile, and-and-!" She stopped. HE
knows nothing of it," she added.
Eyes, know" said Mr.. Grimm.
He stood looking at her in silence
for a moment, staring deeply into the
pleading eyes; and certain tense ex
preston about his lips passed. Fol
an instant her hand trembled on hit
arm, and he caught the fragrance Of
her hair.
Where is she now" he asked.
Playing bridge" replied Miss
Thorne, with sad little smile. 1T /:
always so-at least twice a week, an(
she rarely returns before two or half
past" She extended both hands i'm
petuously. please be generous, Mr.
Grimm. You have the gold; don't de
strov her"
Senior Rodriguez, the minister from
Venezuela, found the gold in his SAT-
on the following morning, with brie
note from Mr.. Grimm, in which Their,
was no explanation of how or where
had been found. And tw,
hours later Monsieur Boissegur, am
bassador from France to the Unite,
States, disappeared from the embassy
os1h