The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-07-27
CHAPTER xi.
The Lace Handkerchief.

The Lace Handkerchief.
Still wearing the graceful. fiimy
morning gown. with an added touch
of scarlet in her hair-a single red
rose-Miss Thorne came into the
drawing-room where Mr.. Grimm sat
waiting. There was curiosity In her
manner. thinly yelled, but the haunt
ing smile still fingered about her lips.
Mr.. Grimm bowed low. and placed q
| chair for her. after which he stood
for a time staring down at one slim,
white hand at rest on the arm Of the
seat. At last. he. too sat down.
Il believe" he said slowly. without
preliminaries, this Is your handksr
chief"
He offered the lacy trifie. odd in de-
sign. unique In workmanship. obvious.
ly of foreign texture. and she 40
cepted It.
Yes" she agreed readily. Il must
have dropped 1t again"
That is the one handed to you by
Senior Rodriguez" Mr.. Grimm told
her. Il think you said you lost II In
his Office yesterday afternoon?"
"YesT She nodded inquiringiy.
1T may interest you to know that
Senior Rodriguez's butler positively
Identifies II as one he restored to you
twice at dinner last evening. between
seven and nine o'clock" Mr.. Grimm
went on dispassionately.
Indeed" exclaimed Miss Thorne
The senior Identifies II as one he
found this morning In his Office" Mr.
Grimm explained obligingly. During
the night fifty thousand dollars in
gold were stolen from his safe"
Miss Thorne sat motionless. wait.
ing.
"All this means-what?" she inqulr
ed. at length.
I'll trouble you. please. to return
the money" requested Mr.. Grimm
courteously. mo reason appears why
you should have taken IL. But I'm not
seeking reasons. nor am seeking dis
agreeable publicity-only the money"
1T seems to me you attach undue
importance to the handkerchief" she
objected
That's a matter OF opinion" MT.
Grimm remarked. 1T would be Use
less. even tedious. to attempt to dis
prove a burglar theory, but against II
Is the difficulty OF entrance. the
weight OF the gold. the ingenious meth.
cd Of opening the safe. and the as
sumption that not more than six per.
sons knew the money was in the safe:
while a person in the house might
have learned II in any of a dozen
ways. And. In addition, is the fact
that the handkerchief is odd, thero
fore noticeable. A lace expert assures
me there's probably not another like
II in the world"
He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes
sparkled and a smile seemed TO be
tugging at the corners OF her mouth.
She spread out the handkerchief on
her knees.
You could identify this again. o,
course?" she Queried.
Yes"
She thoughtfully crumpled up thu
bit OF lace in both hands. then opened
them. There were two handkerchief
now-they were Identical.
Which is II. please7' she asked
II Mr. Grimm was disappointed
there was not trace OF it on his face
She laughed outright. gleefully. mock,
lngly. then, demurely:
Pardon me! You see, it's absurd.
The handkerchief the butler restored
to me at dinner. after lost one in the
senor's Office. might have been either
Of these, or one OF ten other dupli
Gates in my room. all given to me by
her MAJ mean" she corrected
quickly, by a friend In Europe" She
was silent for a moment. rs that allr''
NO" replied Mr.. Grimm gravely.
decisively. I'm not satisfied. shall
insist upon the return Of the money.
and II II is not forthcoming I dare say
Count di Rosini. the Italian ambassa
dor, would be pleased to give his per.
sonal check rather than have the mat
ter become public" She started to
interrupt; but he went on. TN any
event you will be requested to leavs
the country"
Then, and not until then. a decided
change came over Miss Thorne's face.
A deeper color leaped TO her cheeks.
the smile faded from her lips. ana
there was a fash OF uneasiness In her
eyes.
cro BE coNTiNUED)