The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-03-22

you and the StenOgrapner saw INC
ambassador after ten o'clock in the
morning."
"Oui, Monster. C'est-" Monsieur
Rigolot began excitedly. Il beg par
don. / believe that is correct"
You saw him about ten, you say;
therefore no one except the stenog-
rapher saw him after ten oclock?"
That is also true, as far as know"
ANY callers? Letters? kilograms?
Telephone messages?"
Il made inquiries in that direction,
Monsieur" was the reply. Il have the
words of the servants at the door
and Of the stenographer that there
were no callers, and the statement of
the stenographer that there were no
telephone calls or kilograms. There
were only four letters for him per-
sonaiiy. He left them all on his
desk-here they are"
Mr.. Grimm looked them over leisure
ly. They were commonplace enough,
containing nothing that might be con-
strued into a reason for the disap-
pearance.
THE letters Monsieur Boissegur had
dictated were laid on his desk by the
stenographer," Monsieur Rigolot rushed
on volubly, excitedly. I'm the anxiety
and uneasiness following the disap-
pearance they were allowed to remain
there overnight. On Wednesday
morning. Monsieur"-a he hesitated
mpressiyely-"those letters bore his
signature in his own handwriting!
Mr.. Grimm turned his listless eyes
full upon Monsieur Rigolot's perturbed
face for one scant instant.
mo doubt of it being his signature?
he querio d.
Non, Monsieur, nom" the secretary
exclaimed emphatically. "Vous avez-
that is, have known his signature for
years. There is no doubt. The letters
were not of private nature. If you
would care to look at the copies of
them?"
He offered the duplicates tentative
ly. Mr.. Grimm read them over slowly,
the while Monsieur Rigolot sat nerv-
ously staring az him. They. too,
seemed meaningless as bearing on the
matter in hand. Finally, Mr.. Grimm
nodded and Monsieur Rigolot re-
sumed:
And Wednesday night, Monsieur,
another strange thing happened.
Monster Boissegur smokes many ciga-
lettes, of a kind made especially for
him in France, and shipped to him
here He keeps them in case on his
dressing table. On Thursday morning
his valet reported to me that this case
of cigarettes had disappeared"
"Of course observed Mr.. Grimm,
Monsieur Boissegur has a latch-key
to the embassy
"Of course"
Anything unusual happen last
night-that is. Thursday night?'
Nothing, Monsieur-that is, moth
ing we can find"
Mr.. Grimm sat silent for a time and
fell to twisting the seal ring on his
finger. Mr. Campbell turned around
and moved paper weight one inch
to the left, where it belonged, while
Monsieur Rigolot, disappointed at their
amazing apathy, squirmed uneasily in
his chair.
1T would appear, then Mr.. Grimm
remarked, musingly. that after. his
mysterious disappearance the ambas-
sador has either twice returned to his
house at night, or else sent some one
there, first to bring the letters TO
him for signature, and later to get
his cigarettes?'
"Certanement, Monsieur-I mean,
that seems 10 be true. But where is
he? Why should he not come back?
What does It mean? Madame Boisse
CUR il frantic, Frustrated, She wanted
me TO go 10 the police but ! did not
think IT wise that it should become
pubic, so | came here"
Very well. commented Mr.. Grimm.
Let II rest as ii is. Meanwhile you
may reassure madame. Point out to
her that if Monsieur Boissegur signed
the letters Tuesday night he was, al
least alive; and If he came or sent
for the cigarettes Wednesday night
he was still alive. ] shall call at the
embassy this afternoon. No, it isn't
dN' loobAS W 81 WIN sOh INV NA'N
me your latCh-keY. please
Monsieur Rigolot produced the key
and passed It over without a word.
And one other thing Mr. Grimm
continued. please collect all the re-
yOlvers that may be in the house and
take charge of them yourself II any
one, by chance. heard burglar prowl-
ing around there tonight he might
shoot, and in that event either kill
Monsieur Boissegur or-Or me-"
When the secretary had gone Mr..
Campbell idly drummed on his desk
as ne studied the lace or mis- supor-
dinate.
80 much" he commented finally.
It's Miss Thorne again." said the
young man as II answering question.
Perhaps these reports | have re-
ceived today from the Latin capitals
may aid you in dispelling that mys-
terry" Campbell suggested, and Mr..
Grimm turned them over eagerly
Meanwhile our royal visitor, Prince
Benedetto d'Abruzzi, remains I'M
known"