The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-08-03

| llBnt inferred through the halfdrawn
velvet hangings and laid a family Il.
lumined path across the ambassadors 8
desk the heavy leather chairs we're
mere impalpable splotches In the
shadows; the cut.glass knobs of a
mahogany cabinet caught the CLINT OF
light aud reflected 1t dlmly Outside
was the vague, lndetinable night drone
OF city asleep unbroken by any
sound that was distlnguishable, until
finally there came the distant boom
OF a clock. II struck twice.
Seated on a couch in one corner Of
the ambassadors office was Mr..
Grimm. He was leaning against the
high arm of leather, with his feet on
the seat, thoughtfully nursing his
knees. II his attitude indicated any.
thing except sheer comfort II was
that he was listening. He had been
there for two hours, wlde-awake. and
absolutely motionless. 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-onkl" It called
plaintively. "Hon.on-onk Honk!"
The signal! At last The automo
bile went rushing on. full tilt, while
Mr.. Grimm removed his feet from the
seat and dropped them nolselessly to
the floor. Thus, with his hands on
his knees, and listening, listening with
every faculty strained. he sat motion.
less, peerlng toward the open door
that led into the hall. The car was
gone now, the sound of 1t 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-stirrtd 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 dazzled Mr. Grimm with
its binding flood, but he didn't move.
Then softly, almost in a whisper:
Good evening, Mr.. Grimm"
1t was woman's voice, pleasant.
unsurpassed, perfectly modulated.
Mr.. Grimm certainly did not expect II
now, but he knew II instantly-there
was not another quite like 1t in the
wide. wide world-and though he was
still blinking 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.
fiected 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 a sheet of paper II want
you to read this-read It carefully
then 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 Thornes eyes questioned his i'm.
passive face. At length he looked up
ndolently, listlessly and the switch
She crossed the room and
sat down; Mr. Grimm sat beside her
81 think" Miss Thorne suggested
tentatively that that accounts per.
'ectly for Monsieur Boissegur's disap-
learance."
1T gives one explanation, at least"
Mr. Grimm assented musingly. Kid.
lapped-held prisoner-fifty thousand
iollars demanded for his safety and
'elease." A pause, And to whom.
nay ask. was this demand ad.
lressed?"
ITO Madame Bolssegur." replied Miss
rhorne. Il have the envelope in
which II came. It was mailed at the
general post office at half-past one
,'clock this afternoon. so the cancel.
ng stamp shows, and the envelope
vas addressed. as the letter was writ.
en-. on a typewriter"
And how" inquired Mr.. Grimm,
Ifter a long pause, how did II come
nto your possession" He waited
title. why didn't Monsieur Rigolot
eport this development to me this
Ifternoon when | was here?"
Monsieur Rigolot did not inform
'ou of it because he did not know OF
t himself" she replied. answering the
asst question first 1T came into my
directly from the hands
# Madame Boissegur-she gave 1t to
ne"