The Paonia progressive and the Paonia newspaper., 1911-08-10
CHAPTER xIII-(ContInued.)

You knew was here" repeated
Mr.. Grimm musingly. And may l-E
Just as you knew that I. or some
one. at least. had entered this house
q few minutes ago" she interrupted.
The automobile horn outside was a
signal. wasn't it, Hastings was In the
carr Or was II Blair or Johnson!
Mr.. Grimm did not say.
Didn't you anticipate any person
al danger when you entered7" he
Queried instead Weren't you afraid
] might shootr"
No"
There was long silence. Mr..
Grimm still sat with his elbows on his
knees. staring at the vague white
spotch which was Miss Thorne's face
and bare neck One of her white arms
hung at her side like a pallid serpent.
OF the couch
1T seems. Miss Thorne.- be said
at length casually. that our paths OF
duty are inextricably tangled. Twice
previously We have met under cir
cumstances that were more than
strange. and now-thisi Whatever In
Justice / may have done you in the
past by my suspicious has. ! hope.
been forgiven: and In each instance
ere were able to work side by side to-
ward a conclusion. | am wondering
now n this singular affair viii take
n similar course"
He paused Miss Thorne started to
speak. but he silenced her with a
slight gesture of his hand.
1t is only fair to you TO say that
we-tlnt is. the Secret Scrvice-have
learned many things about you" he
resumed in the same casual tone. We
have. through our foreign agents.
traced you step by step from Rome
20 Washington. We know that you
are. In n way. representative OF a
sovereign Of Europe: We know that
you were on a secret mission to the
Spanish court. perhaps for this sover-
eign. and remained In Madrid for
month: we know that from there you
went to Paris. also on n secret mis-
sion perhaps the same-and re-
mained there for three weeks: we know
that you met diplomatic agents OF
those governments later In London.
We know all this; we know the man
ner OF your coming to this country:
Of your coming to Washington. But
we don't know why you are here"
Again she started TO speak. and
again he stopped her.
We don't know your name. but that
In Of no consequence. We do know
that In Spain you were Sonora Cas-.
savant. In Paris Mademoiselle d'Aubi.
non. In London Miss Jane Kellogg.
and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We re-
alize that exigencies arise in your call
ing. and mine. which make changes OF
name desirable necessary even. and
there is no criticism of that Now as
the representative of your govern.
ment-rather government-you have
a right to be here. although unaccred.
fled: you have right to remain here
as long as your acts are consistent
with our laws; you have a right to
your secrets as long as they do not.
directly or indirectly. threaten the
Welfare of this country. Now, why
are you here7"
He received no answer: he expected
none. After moment he went on:
Admitting that you are a secret
agent Of Italy. admitting everything
that you claim to be. you haven't con-
vineed me that you are not the person
Who came here for the letters md
cigarettes. You have said nothing to
prove to my satisfaction that you are
not the individual I was waiting for to-
Night"
You don't mean that you sus-
pect-f" she began in tone Of amaze
ment
7 don't mean that I suspect any
thing" he interposed. II mean mercy