The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-09-28
"Must7 Must? Do you say must

"Must7 Must? Do you say must
to me?"
"Yes, must" she repeated steadily.
And by what authority. please.
io--"
by that authority" She drew a
tiny, illigreed gold box from her
bosom and cast 1t upon the table; the
prince stared at 1t. 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 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-
volyer barrel resting on his knees.
Eleven minutes!" he announced
again.
Suddenly the prince turned violent.
ly on Miss Thorne with rage.dlstort.
ed face.
DO you know what It means to
you II do as you say?" he demanded
savagely. 1T means you will be brand.
ed as traitor. that your name, your
property"
"lf 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 It affects
my person is Of no consequence now.
You will destroy the compact"
Nine mlnutes!" 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 II. I'd pre-.
fer rot 10 see IT,"
With hatred blazing in his eyes the
prince made his way toward the lamp
holding parchment toward the blaze
There's nothing else to be DONE"
he exclaimed savagely.
Just a moment. please" Mr. Grimm
interposed quickly Miss Thorne, Is
that the compact"
She glanced at II. nodded her head,
and then the flame caught the fringed
edge of paper. 1t cracked. flashed.
fiamed, and at last, a thing of ashes.
was scattered on the floor. Mr. Grimm
rose.
THAT is all. gentlemen" he an
nounced courteously. you are free to
go. You. your Highness, and Miss
Thorne, will accompany me"
He held open the door and there
was almost a scramble to get out.
The prince and Miss Thorne waited
until the last.
And. Miss Thorne. II you will give
us lift In your carr" Mr.. Grimm
suggested. 1T is now four minutes OF
three"
The automobile came in answer to
signal. and the three In silence en-
tered II. The car trembled and has
Just begun to move when Grimm re-
membered something. and leaped out
Wait for met" he called. There's
a man locked In the coal.blni"
He disappeared into the house. and
Miss Thorne, with a gasp of horror
sank back in her seat with face like
chalk. The prince glanced uneasily
at his watch. then spoke curtly to the
chauffeur
Run the car up out of danger;
there'll be an explosion there In a
moment"
They had gone perhaps n hundred |
feet when the building they had Just
left seemed to be lifted bodily from
the ground by great spurt Of flame
which tore through its center, then
collapsed like a thing of cards The
prince, unmoyed glanced around at
Miss Thorne; she lay In dead faint
beside him.
Go ahead" he commanded bal.
timore."