The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-04-26


trusted agent Of my government.
and a friend of my queen"
She rose and extended both hands
gracously. Mr.. Grimm seized the
slender white fingers and stood with
eyes fixed upon her. Slowly a flush
crept into her pallid cheeks, and she
bowed her head.
Wonderful womanl" he said softly.
II shall ask favor Of you now"
she went on gently. Let all this that
you have learned take the place of
whatever you expected to learn, and
60 Believe me, there can only be one
result if you meet-if you meet the
inventor OF the wireless cap upon
which so much was staked, and SO
much lost" She shuddered little,
then raised the blue-gray eyes be-
seechingly to his face. Please CO."
Go! The word Strengthened Mr..
Grimm in his tracks and he allowed
her hands to fall Imply. Suddenly
his face grew hard. In the ecstasy OF
alteration he had momentarily forgot
ten his purpose here. His eyes lost
their ardor; his nsrvslsss hands
dropped beside him.
NO." he said
you must-you must" she urged
gently. Il know what 1t means to
you. You feel It your duty to unravel
the secret of the percussion CAPT You
can't; no man can. No one knows
the inventor more intimately than I,
and even couldn't get II from him.
There are no plans for It in existence,
and even II there were he would no
more sell them than you would have
accepted q fortune at the hands Of
Prince d'Abruszi to remain silent The
compact has failed; you did that. The
agents have scattered-gone to other
duties. That is enough"
NO." said Mr.. Grimm. There was
. strange fear tearing at his heart
mo one knows the inventor more in
timately that l." mo" he said again.
Il won from my government prom
ise to be made good upon a condition
Il must fulfill that condition"
Wont you 60 II you know you will
be killed" and suddenly her face turn
ed scarlet, "and that your life is dear
to me-"
mo"
Isabel dropped upon her knees be-
fore him.
This inventor-this man whom you
insist on seeing-is half insane with
disappointment and anger" she rush
ed on desperately. Remember that
vast fortune, honor. fame were at
his finger tips when you-you placed
them beyond his reach by the destruc-
ton of the compact. He has sworn to
kill you"
Il can't go,"
IF | tell you that of the two hui.
man beings in this world whom love
this man is one?"
mo"
shutting step sounded in the hall
way just outside. Mr.. Grimm stepped
back from the kneeling figure, and
turned to face the door with his re-
volver ready.
Great God!" 1t was a scream OF
agony. He is my brother! Don't
you see?"
She came to her feet and went stag
clicked in the lock.
Your brother!"
He wouldn't listen to me-you
wouldn't listen to me, and now-and
now! God have mercy"
There was a sharp rafting clam
or at the door, and Isabel turned to
Mr.. Grimm mutely, with arms out
stretched. The revolver barrel clicked
under his hand, then, after a moment,
he replaced the weapon in his pocket
Please open the door," he request
ed quietly.
Hell kill you!" she screamed.
Exhausted, helpless. she leaned
against O chair with her face In her
hands. Mr.. Grimm went to her sud-
denly, tore the hands from her face,
and met the tear-stained eyes.
Il love you" he said. 81 want you
to know that"
And love you-that's why 1t mat
ters So"
Leaving her there, Mr.. Grimm
strobe straight to the door and threw
1t open. He saw only the outline OF
thin little man Of indeterminate age.
then came binding flash under his
eyes, and he leaped forward. There
was short, sharp struggle, and both
went down. The revolveri He must
get that! He reached for It with the
,ne Idea of disarming this madman.
lhe muzzle was thrust toward him,
ne threw up his arm to protect his
read, and then came a second flash.
instantly he felt the figure In his
rms grow limp; and after q moment
lie rose. The face Of the man on the
loor was pearly gray; and a thin,
carlet thread flowed from his temple.
He turned toward Isabel. She lay
ear the chair, a little crumpled heap.
n stride be was beside her and
lfted her head to his knee. The blue
ray eyes opened into his once, then
hey closed She had tainted. The
rst bullet had sierced her arm; it
'as only flesh wound. He lifted her
emily and placed her on a couch, aft
which he disappeared into another