The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-09-29

sssASASAOSDAAAb SAAOA ~ ABOW tU0t S0V
woman had pinned = paper TO tho
lapel q his cost. Enally she straight,
ened up. and took two steps away
from him, after which came 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 quick rustling Of skirts.
the door creaked, and-sflence, deem.
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, then! She had under
stoud. that day!
The kiss of woman beloved is
splendid heart toms: Mr.. Grimm
Strengthened up suddenly on tho
couch, himself again. He touched the
slip Of paper which she had pinned to
his coat to make sure it was not all
dream, after which he recalled the
fact that while he had heard the door
crenk before she went out he had not
heard 1t creak afterward. 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
ington? Pondering that question, MIR.
Grimm's excellent teeth clicked sharp.
~ together and he rose. He knew the
answer. The compact was to be
signed-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 held
absolute power to sign the compact
for Italy, France and Spain, had also
returned.
Stealthily feeling his way as he
went, Mr.. Grimm moved toward the
door leading to freedom, guided by
the fresh draft of air. He reached
the door-it was standing open-and
a moment later stepped out into the
star-lit night. 1t was open country
here, with thread of white road just
ahead, and farther along fringe OF
shrubbery. Mr. Grimm reached the
road. Far down it. pin point in the
night. light flickered through inter-
lacing branches. The tail lamp Of an
automobile, of course!
Mr.. Grimm left the road and skirt
ed sparse hedge in the direction of
the light. After a moment he heard
the engine Of an automobile, and saw
woman-barely discernible-step
into the car. AS it 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
there 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..
Grimm dropped off and darted behind
some convenient bushes. And the first
thing he did there was to light a
match. and read what was written on
the slip of paper pinned to his coat.
1t was. simply:
''My Dear Mr.. Grimm:
'By the time you read this the com.
pact will have been signed, and your
efforts to prevent it, splendid as they
were, futile. 1t is a tribute to you
that it was unanimously agreed that
you must be accounted for at the time
of the signing, hence the drugging in
the restaurant; 1t was only an act of
kindness that should come here to
see that all was we'll with you, and
leave the door open behind me.
Believe me when l say that you
are one man in whom 1 have never
been disappointed. Accept this as my
farewell, for now I assume again the
name and position rightful.y mine.
And know, too, that 1 shall always
cherish the belief that you will re-
member me as
"Your friend,
ISABEL TTIORNE.
Up. S. The prince and 1 left the
steamer at Montauk Point, on tug.
boat"
Mr. Grimm L;cco5 thu oo&o &-,;oo