The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1911-12-02

desk; the heavy leather chairs were
mere impalpable splotches in the
shadows; the cut-glass knobs of a
mahogany cabinet caught the CLINT of
light and reflected it dimly. Outside
was the vague, indef1nable night drone
OF city asleep, p4Droken by any
sound that was distinguishable, until
finally there came the distant boom
Of a clock 1t struck twice.
Seated on a couch in one corner Of
the ambassadors Sofice was Mr..
Grimm He was leaning against the
high arm Of leather, with his feet on
the seat, thoughtfully nursing his
knees. If his attitude indicated any
thing except sheer comfort, it was
that he was listening. He had been
there for two hours, Wide-awake, and
absolutely motionIess. Five. ten,
fifteen minutes more passed, and then
Mr.. Grimm heard the grind and whir
Of an automobile a block or so away,
coming toward the embassy. Now it
was in front
'Honk! Hon-on-onk!" it called
plaintively. "Hon-on-onk! HonkI"
The signal! At lastI The automo-
bile went rushing on, full tilt, while
Mr.. Grimm removed his feet from the
seat and dropped them noiselessly to
the floor. Thus, with his hands on
his knees, and listening, listening with
every faculty strained, he sat motion
less, peering toward the open door
that led into the hall. The car was
gone now, the sound of it swallowed
up in the distance, still he sat there
1t was obviously some noise in the
house for which he was waiting.
Minute after minute passed, and
still nothing. There was not even the
whisper of a wind-stirred drapery. He
was about to rise, when, suddenly,
with no other noise than that Of the
sharp click of the switch, the electric
lights in the room blazed up brilliant
ly. The glare dazzIed Mr.. Grimm with
its binding flood, but he didn't move.
Then softly, almost in a whisper:
Good evening, Mr.. Grimm"
1t was a woman's voice. pleasant,
unsurpassed, perfectly modulated.
Mr.. Grimm certainly did not expect it
now, but he knew it instantly-there
was not another quite like it in the
wide, wide world-and though he was
still blinking a little, he came to his
feet cOurteously.
Good morning, Miss ThOrne." he
corrected gravely.
Now his vision was clearing. and he
saw her, a graceful figure, silhouetted
against the rich green Of the wall
draperies. Her lips were curled the
least bit, as if she might have been
smiling, and her wonderful eyes re-
flected a CLINT of-of-was it amuse-
ment? The folds of her evening dress
fell away from her, and one bare,
white arm was extended, as her hand
still rested on the switch.
"And you didn't hear me?" still in
the half-whisper. 81 didn't think you
would. Now I'm going to put out the
lights for an instant, while you pull
the shades down, and then-then we
must have "a conference"
The switch snapped. The lights
! died as suddenly as they had been
born, and Mr. Grimm, moving noise
lessly. visited each of the four win
| dows in turn Then the lights blazed
brilliantly again.
Just for a moment Miss Thorne
explained to him quietly, and she
handed him sheet of paper. IT want
you to read this-read it carefully
then 1 shall turn out the lights again.
They are dangerous. After that we
may discuss the matter at our leis-
ure"
Mr.. Grimm read the paper while
Miss Thorne's eyes questioned his i'm
passive face. At length he looked up
indolently, nstlessIy, and the switch
snapped. She crossed the room and
sat down; Mr.. Grimm sat beside her.
ct think" Miss Thorne suggested
tentatively, that that accounts per
fectly for Monsieur Boissegur's disap-
pearance-"
ct gives one explanation, at least"
Mr. Grimm assented musingly. Kid
napped-heId prisoner-fifty thousand
| dollars demanded for his safety and
release" A pause. And to whoms
may I ask, was this demand adj
dressed?"
ITO Madame Boissegur," replied Miss
Thorne Il have the envelope in
which it came. 1t was mailed at the
general post Office at half-past one
o'clock this afternoon, so the cancel
| ing stamp shows, and the envelope
was addressed, as the letter was writ
ten, on a typewriter"
"And how" inquired Mr.. Grimm,
after a long pause, how did it come
into your possession" He waited a
| little. why didn't Monsieur Rigolot
report this development to me this
| afternoon when 1 was here?"
Monsieur Rigolot did not inform
you of it because he did not know of
it himself" she replied, answering the
| last question first. 1T came into my
possession directly from the hands
of Madame Boissegur-s gave it to
me-
"Why?"
Mr. Grimm was peering through the
! inscrutable darkness, straight into her
! face-a white daub in the gloom.
shapeless, indistinct.
'1 have known Madame BoisseguF
for half a dozen years" Miss Thorne
continued, in explanation. I'VE have
been friends that long. 1 met her in
Toxic, later in Berlin. and within
| few weeks, here in Washington You
! see I have travelled in the time ]
have been an agent for my govern
ment Well, Madame Boissegur TO
| ooi-od this haff-naSf fOIzy