Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1911-09-22
CHAPTER XII.
The Lace Handkerchief.

| Still wearing the graceful, f1lmy
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 a
chair for her. after which he stood
for time staring down at one slim,
white hand at rest on the arm of the
seat. At last, he. too sat down.
| 81 believe" he said slowly, without
preliminaries. this is your handker-
chief?"
He offered the lacy trifie. odd in de-
sign. unique in workmanship. obvious.
ly of foreign texture. and she &C.
cepted it.
Yes" she agreed readily. 'I must
have dropped 1t again"
That is the one handed to you BY
Senior Rodriguez" Mr.. Grimm told
her. II think you said you lost It in
his office yesterday afternoon
"Yes?" She nodded inquiringly.
1T may interest you to know that
Senior Rodriguez's butler positively
Identifies 1t 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 It as one he
found this morning In his Office" Mr
Grimm explained obligingly. During
the night fifty thousand dollars in
| HI
| Miss Thorne sat motionless. wait.
ing.
''All this means-what?" she inquir.
ed. at length.
I'll trouble you. please. to return
the money" requested Mr.. Grimm
courteously. NO reason appears why
you should have taken It. But I'm no,
seeking reasons. nor am I 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" Mr..
Grimm remarked. 1T would be use
less. even tedious, to attempt to dis.
prove 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 person in the house might
have learned 1t in any OF a dozen
ways. And. in addition, is the fact
that the handkerchief is odd, there
fore noticeable. A lace expert assures
me there's probably not another like
1t in the world"
He stopped. Miss Thorne's eyes
sparkled and smile seemed to be
Juggling at the corners of her mouth.
She spread out the handkerchief on
her knees.
You could identity this again. Of
course?" she queried
Yes"
She thouehtfully crumpled up the
bit Of lace in both hands, then opened
them. There were two handkerchief
now-they were Identical.
| Which is 1t, please?" she asked
II Mr.. Grimm was disappointed
there was not trace OF it on his face.
She laughed outright. gleefully. mock
ingly, then. demurely:
Pardon me, You see, it's absurd
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 friend In Europe" She
was silent for moment. 'Is that ALP
NO" replied MIR. Grimm gravely,
decisively. Pm not satisfied. shall
insist upon the return of the money.
and If 1t is not forthcoming / dare say
Count di Rosini. the Italian ambassa-
dor, would be pleased to give his per-
sopal check rather than have the mat.
ter become public She started to
interrupt; but he went on. ''In any
event you will be requested to leave
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, and
there was flash of uneasiness In her
eyes.
CTo BE CONTINUED