The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-08-18
CHAPTER VII.
rhe SIGNAL.

Inc Sl9ndIs
"And the original question remains
unanswered" remarked Mr.. Campbell
1.-THE original question:" repeated
Mr.. Grimm.
Where is Prince Benedetto d'Abruz-
ri. the secret envoy?" his chief re-
minded him.
Il wonder!" unused the young man.
"If the Latin compact is signed in
the United States"
THE Latin compact will not be
Grimm interrupted. And then, after
a moment: Have we received any
further reports on Miss Thorne? ]
mean reports from our Avn
agents?"
The chief shook his head
Inevitably, by some act or word.
she will lead us to the prince" de-
clared Mr.. Grimm, "and the moment
he is known to us everything be-
comes plain sailing. We know she Is
q secret agent expected denial,
but she was quite frank about 1t. And
/ had no intention whatever of placing
her under arrest. l knew some one
was in the adjoining room because Of
slight noise in there, and knew
she knew 1t. She raised her voice a
little, obviously for the benefit OF
whoever was there From that point
everything said and did was to COM
pei that person, whoever it was, to
show himself"
His chief nodded, understandingly.
Mr.. Grimm was silent for a little, then
went on:
"The last possibility in my mind at
that moment" he confessed, was that
the person in there was the man who
shot Senior Alvarez. Frankly had
half an idea that-that 1t might be the
prince in person" Suddenly his mood
changed: And now our lady of mys-
terry may come and go as she likes be-
cause know, even If dozen Of our
men have ransacked Washington in
vain for the prince, she will inevitably
lead US to him. And that reminds me:
I should like to borrow Blair, and
Hastings, and Johnson. Please plant
them so they may keep constant
watch on Miss Thorne. Let them re-
port to you. and. wherever l am. will
reach you over the phone"
''By the way, what was in that seal
ed packet that was taken from Senior
Alvarez?" Campbell inquired curiously.
"It had something to do with some
railroad franchises" responded Mr..
I'm 81 he q Oof n
and returned 1t to the senior. Evident
ly 1t was not what Signor Petrozinni
expected to find-in fact, he admitted
1t wasn't what he was looking for"
For little while the two men gazed
thoughtfully, each into the eyes. Of the
other, then Mr.. Grimm entered his
private ONCE where he sat for an hour
with his immaculate boots on his
desk. thinking. A world-war-he had
been thrust forward by his govern
ment to prevent it-subtle blue-gray
eyes-his Highness. Prince Benedetto
d'Abruzzi--a haunting smile and scar
let lips.
At about the moment he rose to go
out, Miss Thorne, closely yelled, left
tuS VCucZucldu iSBdlluu anu WdlkGu
rapidly down the street to a corner,
where, without word, she entered a
waiting automobile. The wheels spun
and the car leaped forward. For a
mile or more it wound aimIessly in
and out, occasionally bisecting its own
path; finally Miss Thorne leaned for
ward and touched the chauffeur on the
arm.
'Now!" she said.
The car Strengthened out into a
street of stately residences and scut-
tied along until the placid bosom Of
the Potomac came into view; besides
that for few minutes, then over the
bridge to the Virginia side, in the
dilapidated little city of Alexandria.
The car did not slacken its speed, but
wound in and out through dingy
streets. past tumble-down negro huts,
for half an hour before 1t came to a
standstill in front of an old brick
mansion.