The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-04-19


opposite corner of the room. He bent
over it half a minute, then straight
ened up.
THAT cap, Mr.. Grimm, has one dis
advantage" he remarked casually.
J when 1t is attached to a mine or
torpedo 1t can not be disconnected
without firing 1t. It is attached" He
turned to the others. 1T Is needless
to discuss the matter further Just
now. If you will follow me? We
will leave Mr.. Grimm here"
With a strange little cry, neither
anger nor anguish, yet oddly partak-
ing of the quality of each, Isabel went
quickly to the prince.
How dare you do such thing?'
she demanded flercely. at is MUIR
der"
This is not time, Miss Thorne,
for your interference" replied the
prince coldly. 1T has all passed be-
yond the point where the feelings Of
any one person, even the feelings OF
the woman who has engineered the
compact, can be considered. A single
life can not be permitted to stand IN
the way of the consummation of this
world project. Mr.. Grimm alive
means the compact would be useless,
II not impossible; Mr.. Grimm dead
means the fruition of all our plans
and hopes. You have done your duty
and you have done II well; but now
your authority ends, and l. the spe-
cial envoy Of"
Just a moment, please" Mr.. Grimm
interrupted courteously. "As l un-
derstand it. your Highness, the mine
there in the corner is charged?"
Eyes. 1t just happened to be here
for purposes of experiment"
1.-THE cap is attached?"
Quite right" The prince laughed
"And at three o'clock, by your
watch, the mine will be fired by a
wireless operator fifteen miles from
here?"
Something like that; yes, very
much like that" assented the prince.
"Ths-k you. merely wanted to
understand It," Mr. Grimm pulled a
chair up against the door and sat
down. crossing his legs. On his knees
rested the barrel of revolver, gilt
tering. fascinating In the semi-dark-
ness NOW, gentlemen" and he
glanced at his watch, cts twenty-one
minutes of three o'clock. At three
that mine will explode. We will all
be in the room when 1t happens, I'M
less his Highness sees fit to destroy
the compact"
Eyes sought eyes, and the prince
removed his mask with a sudden ges-
ture. His face was bloodless.
IF any man." and Mr.. Grimm gave
Miss Thorne a quick glance, II should
say, any person. attempts to leave this
room I know he will die; and there's
a bare chance that the percussion cap
will fail to work. l can account for
six Of you. II there is rush"
But, man. II that mine explodes we
shall all be killed-blown to pieces!"
burst from one of the cowled figures
IF the percussion cap works." sup
plemented Mr.. Grimm.
Mingled emotion struggled In the
flushed face of Isabel as she studied
Mr.. Grimm's impressive countenance.
81 have never disappointed you yet
Miss Thorne," he remarked as II II
were an explanation. Il shall not
now"
She turned to the prince.
your Highness, I think it needless
to argue further" she said. 1--WE have
no choice in the matter; there is only
once course-destroy the compact"
mol" was the curt answer.
81 believe know Mr.. Grimm better
than you do" she argued. you
think he will weaken; know he will
not. am not arguing for him. nor
for myself; am arguing against the
frightful loss that will come. here In
this room II the compact is not de-
stroyed."
ITS absurd to let one man stand in
the way declared tho prince angrily
"It might not be an impertinent
question, your Highness," commented
Mr.. Grimm. "for me to ask how you
are going to prevent one man stand
Ing in tho wayF"
A quick change came over Miss
Thorne's face. Tho eyes hardened.
the lips were set, and lines Mr.. Grimm
had never seen appeared about the
mouth. Here. in fash. the cloak Of
discrimination was cast aside, and the
woman stood forth, this keen, bril-
liant, determined woman who did
things.
THE compact will be destroyed"
she said.
NO" declared the prince.
1T must be destroyed"
Must? Must? Do you say must
to me?"
Yes. must" she repeated steadily.
"And by what authority. please,
do"
by that authority" She drew q
tiny, filigreed gold box from her
bosom and cast 1t upon the table; the
prince stared at Il. I'm the name of
your sovereign-must!" she said
again.
The prince turned away and began
pacing back and forth across the
rcOu, NTH fhn narohuocnt rrvv,c Al