The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-08-25
{ chAPTER xiv.

~ Rescue ma m EooAtbo. 81
Miss Thorne's voice startled Mr.
Grimm ! little, but no Ind no doubts
It was Monsieur Boissegur. hi. Grimm
was going toward the enframed figure
when, without any apparent reason.
the ambassador turned ana ran along
the hall; and at that instant the lights
went out again. For one moment
Grimm stood still, daxed and blinded
by the sudden blackness, and again he
started toward the door. Miss Thorne
was beside him.
1.-THE lights!" he whispered tensely.
Find the switch!"
He heard the rustic Of her skifts
as she moved away. and stepped out
into the hall. feeling with both his
hands along the wall. A few feet
away, in the direction the ambassador
had gone there seemed to be violent
struggle in progress-there was the
scuffling Of feet, and quick-drawp
breaths as muscle strained against
muscle. The lights! II he could only
find the switch! Then, as his hands
moved along the wall, they came in
contact with another hand-a hand
pressed firmly against the plastering.
barring his progress. A light blow in
the face caused him to step back
quickly.
The scuffiing sound suddenly re-
solved itself into moving footsteps,
and the front door opened and closed
with bang. Mr.. Grimm's listless
eyes snapped, and his white teeth
came together sharply as he started
toward the front door. But fate
seemed to be against him still. He
stumbled over chair, and his own
impetus forward sent him sprawling;
his head struck the wall with re-
sounding whack; and then, over the
house, came utter silence. From out
side he heard the clatter of a cab.
Finally that died away in the distance.
Miss Thorne?" he inquired quietly.
I'm here" she answered in de-
spairing voice. But 1 can't find the
switch"
"Are you hurt?"
mo"
And then she found the switch; the
lights flared up. Mr.. Grimm was sit
ting thoughtfully on the floor.
"That simplifies the matter consid-
erably." he observed complacently. as
he rose. "The men who signaled to
me when you entered the embassy will
never let that cab get out of their
sight,
Miss Thorne stood leaning forward
a little, eagerly gazing at him with
those wonderful blue-gray eyes, and an
expression of-of-perhaps it was ad.
miration on her face.
care you sure?" she demanded, at
last.
Il know it." was his response.
And Just then Monsieur Rigolot, Sec
rotary of the embassy, thrust an in
quisitive head timidly around the cor
ner of the stairs. The crash of glass
had aroused him.
What happened?" he asked, breath
lessly.
I'VE don't know: just yet" replied
Mr.. Grimm. IF the noise aroused
any one else please assure them that
there's nothing the matter. And you
might inform Madame Boissegur that
the ambassador will return home to.
morrow. Good night"
At his hotel, when he reached
there, Mr.. Grimm found Miss Thorne's
Garland he drew a long breath; at
his Office he found another of her
cards, and he drew another long
breath. He did like corroborative de-
tails, did Mr.. Grimm, and, of course,
this! On the following day Miss
Thorne accompanied him to Alexan.
dria, and they were driven in: closed
carriage out toward the western edge
of the city. Finally the carriage
stopped at signal from Mr.. Grimm,
and he assisted Miss Thorne out,
after which he turned and spoke to
some one remaining inside-a man.
(TO BE CONTINUED)