The Tupelo journal., 1911-11-10
by JACQUES


from Paris. Understand, please, that
all these things were made possible
by the aid and cooperation Of dozens.
scores. q agents who were under my
orders; every person who appeared In
that abduction was working 1t my DR.
rection. The ambassadors unexpect'
ed escape disarranged our plans; but
he was taken out of the embassy BY
force the second time under your
very ewes. The darkness which made
this possible was due to the fact that
while you were looking for the switch,
and l was apparently aiding, was hold
ing my hand over 1t all the time ia
keep you from turning on the light
You remember that?"
Mr.. Grimm nodded.
"All the rest OF It you know" she
concluded YEARLY. You compelled
me to leave the Venezuelan legation
by your espionage, but in the crowded
hotel to which l moved had little dit.
ficulty avoiding your Mr.. Hastings.
your Mr.. Blair and your MIR. johnson.
so I came and went freely without
your knowledge. The escape of the
prince from prison you arranged. 20
you understand all Of that, as well al
the meeting and attempted signing OF
the compact. and the rapid recovery
of Senior Alvarez. And, after all. II
was my fault that our plans failed, be-
cause II l had not b~een-been un-
easy as to your condition and had not
made the mistake of going to the do
serted little house where you YER .
prisoner, the plans would have sue.
ceeded. the compact been signed"
I'm beginning to understand" said
Mr.. Grimm gravely, and a wistful. ten.
der look crept into his eyes. IF IL
had not been for that act of-consid.
Grafton and kindness to me-"
I'VE would have succeeded in spite
Of you" explained Isabel. I'VE were
afraid of you, Mr.. Grimm. 1t was a
compliment to you that we considered
1t necessary to account for your
whereabouts at the time of the sign
ing of the compact"
And If you had succeeded" re-
marked Mr.. Grimm. "the whole civil
lized world would have come to war"
II never permitted myself to think
OF 1t that way" she replied frankly.
There is something splendid to me
in a battle of brains; there is exalta-
ton, stimulation, excitement in it. It
80. .luroyo nrSeasCad tho ~raatn.<
fascination for me. / have always
won, you know. until now. l failed!
And my reward is 'Traitor!'
Just a word Of assurance now
she went on after q moment. THE
Latin compact has been definitely
given up; the plan has been dismissed,
thanks to you; the peace of the world
IL unbroken. And who am 1? know
you have wondered; know your
agents have secured the world to fnd
out. am the daughter Of q former
Italian ambassador to the Court of st.
James. Ny mother was an English
woman. l was born and received my
early education In England, hence my
perfect knowledge Of that tongue. In
Rome ] am, or have been. alas. the
couatsss Rosa A'Orsetti; now ! am IN
exile with . price on my head. That
10 al, except for several yeAsS was
q trusted agent Of my government
and 4 friend Of my queen"
She reese and extended both hands
g~raciously. Mr.. Grimm seized the
slender white fingers and stood with
syss fred upon her. Slowly . flush
crspt into her pallSA cheeks, and shs
bowed her hsaA.
Wonderful womanI" he said softly.
y 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 leaTn. and
60. Believe ne, there can only be one
result II you mest-if you meet the
inventor Of the wireless cap upon
which SO much was staked, and 20
much lost" She shuddered a little,
then raised the blue-gray eyes be,
seechingly to his face. Please 60"
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 n~ervelsss hands
dropped beside him.
NO" he said.
You must-you must" she urged
gently. :" know what It means 70
you. You feel It your duty to unravei
the secret OF the percussion cap! You
can't; NJ man can. No one knows
the inventor more intimately than 1.
And even l couldn't get It from him.
There are NO plans for 1t In existence.
and ever II there were he would NO
more sell them than you would have
accepted q fortune at the hands OF
Prince d'Abruzzi to remain silent. Tho
compact has failed; you did that. The
agents have scattsTed-gone to other
duties. That II enough"
NO." said Mr.. Grimm. There VA
. strange fear tearing at his heart
No one knows the ~invsn4or more In
timately that l." No." he SAID sgain.
Il won from my government Z prom
iSe to be made good up0m = coalition