Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-12-01

"And at three o'clock, by your
watch, the mine will be fired by
wireless operator fifteen miles from
hereT
Something like that; yes, very
much like that" assented the prince.
"Thank you. merely wanted to
understand It," Mr.. Grimm pulled
chair up against the door and sat
down, crossing his legs. On his knees
rested the barrel of a revolver. gilt
tering, fascinating. in the semf-dark-
ness. "Now, gentlemen" and he
glanced at his watch. tits twenty-one
minutes of three o'clock. At three
that mine will explode. We will all
be in the room when it happens, un-
less his Highness sees fit to destroy
the compact"
Eyes sought eyes, and the prince
removed his mask with a sudden ges-
ture. His face was bloodless.
"If any man." and Mr.. Grimm gave
Miss Thorne quick glance, Il should
say, any person. attempts to leave this
room / know he will die; and there's
bare chance that the percussion cap
will fail to work. I can account for
six of you. II there is a rush."
But, man, If that mine explodes we
shall all be killed-blown to pieces!"
burst from one of the cowled figures.
"If the percussion cap works." sup
plemented Mr.. Grimm.
Mingled emotion struggled in the
flushed face of Isabel as she studied
Mr. Grimm's impassive countenance.
"I have never disappointed you yet.
Miss Thorne," he remarked as If 1t
we're an explanation. 81 shall not
now"
She turned to the prince.
Your Highness. I think 1t needless
to argue further" she said. 1--WE have
no choice in the matter; there is only
once course-destroy the compact"
moi" was the curt answer.
81 believe 1 know MIR. Grimm better
than you do" she argued. You
think he will weaken; I know he will
not. I am not arguing for him, nor
for myself: l am arguing against the
frightful loss that will come here in
this room II the compact is not de-
stroyed."
ITS absurd to let one man stand in
the way" declared the prince angrily.
sit might not be an impertinent
question. your Highness." commented
Mr.. Grimm, for me to ask how you
are going to prevent one man stand
ing in the way?"
A quick change came over Miss
Thorne's face The eyes hardened,
the lips were set, and lines Mr.. Grimm
had never seen appeared about the
mouth Here. in flash. the cloak OF
discrimination was cast aside, and the
woman stood forth. this keen. bril-
liant. determined woman who did
things,
"The compact will be destroyed"
she said.
NO" declared the prince.
ut must be destroyed"
Must? Must? Do you say must
to me?'
yes. must" she repeated steadily.
And by what authority. please.
do"
by that authority" She drew a
tiny. filigreed gold box from her
bosom and cast It upon the table; the
prince stared at It. "In the name of
your sovereign-must!" she said
again.
The prince turned away and began
pacing back and forth across the
room with the parchment crumpled
in his hand. For a minute or more
Isabel stood watching him.
Thirteen minutes," Mr.. Grimm an
nounced coldly.
And now broke out an excited chat
ter, a babel of French. English, Ital-
| ian. Spanish; those masked and
cowled ones who had held silence for
SO long all began talking at once. One
of them snatched at the crumpled
compact in the princes hand. while
all crowded around him arguing. Mr..
Grimm sat perfectly still with the re-
volver barrel resting on his knees.
Eleven minutes" he announced
again.
Suddenly the prince turned violent
" on Miss Thorne with rage-distort-
ed face.
DO you know what 1t means to
you II 1 do as you say?" he demanded
savagely. TT means you will be brand
ed as traitor. that your name. your
property" 90.
'If you will pardon me, your High
ness" she interrupted, the power
that have used was given to me to
use; ! have used it. It is a matter
to be settled between me and my
government, and as far as 1t affects
my person is of no consequence now.
You will destroy the compact"
Mine minutes" said Mr.. Grimm
monotonously.
Again the babel broke out.
DO We understand that you want
to see the compact" one of the
cowled men asked suddenly of Mr..
Grimm as he turned.
| NO, / don't want to see 1t. I'd pre-