The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-08-18

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Mr.. Grimm cert inly ala not 0xpoct ,it
now, but 10 know It Instant hsfe
W. mot another quite like it in ~
wide, Wids Wotld ana though hs was
stin blinking : little. no came to hia
feet courteously. l M
Good morning. Miss Thorne.s no
corrected gravely.
Now his vision was clearing. and he
saw her, . graceful figure, silhouetted
against the rich green Of the wall
draperies. Her lips were curled the
least Bit ~ Il she might have been
smiling. and her wonderful eyes 10.
dected q CLINT Of was It amuse.
ment7 The folds Of her evening dress
fell away from her.. and one bare.
white arm was extended. as her hand
still rested on the switch.
"And you didn't hear met" still Is
the half-whisper. II didn't think you
would. Now I'm going to put out the
lights for an instant, while you pull
the shades down, and then-then We
must have IA conference"
The switch snapped. The lights
died as suddenly as they had been
born, and Mr.. Grimm, moving noise
lessly, visited each Of the four win
dows in turn. Then the lights blazed
brilliantly again.
"Just for a moment" Miss Thorne
explained to him quietly, and she
handed him sheet Of paper. Il want
you to read this-read it carefully
then shall turn out the lights again.
They are dangerous. After that we
may discuss the matter at our leis-
ure."
Mr.. Grimm read the paper while
Miss Thorne's eyes questioned his i'm.
passive face. At length he looked up
indolently, listlessly, and the switch
snapped. She crossed the room and
sat down; Mr.. Grimm sat beside her.
Il think" Miss Thorne suggested
tentatively, chat that accounts per.
fectly for Monsieur Boissegur's disap.
pearance."
1T gives one explanation, at least"
Mr.. Grimm assented musingly. "Kid.
napped-held prisoner-f1fty thousand
dollars demanded for his safety and
release" A pause "And to whom,
may I ask, was this demand ad-
dressed?"
ITO Madame Boissegur," replied Mics
Thorne. Il have the envelope in
which it came. It was mailed at the
general post Office at half-past one
o'clock this afternoon, so the cancel.
ing stamp shows, and the envelope
was addressed, as the letter was writ.
ten, on typewriter"
And how" inquired Mr.. Grimm,
after a long pause, "how did it come
into your possession" He waited
little. "Why didn't Monsieur Rigolot
report this development to me this
afternoon when I was here?"
Monsieur Rigolot did not inform
you of it because he did not know Of
it himself" she replied, answering the
last question first. 1T came into my
possession directly from the hands
of Madame Boissegur-she gave It to
me-"
"Why?"
Mr.. Grimm was peering through the
inscrutable darkness, straight into her
face-a white daub in the gloom,
shapeless, indistinct.
II have known Madame Boissegur
for half dozen years." Miss Thorne
continued, in explanation. I'VE have
been friends that long. I met her in
Toxic, later in Berlin, and within
few weeks, here in Washington. You
see have travelled in the time I
have been an agent for my govern.
ment. Well, Madame Boissegur re-
ceived this letter about half-past four
o'clock this afternoon; and about half
past five she sent for me and placed
it in my hands, together with the
singular details following upon the am
bassador's disappearance. So, it
would seem that you and are allies
for this once, and the problem is al
ready solved. There merely remains
the task of finding and releasing the
ambassador"
Mr.. Grimm sat perfectly still.
"And why" he asked, slowly, "are
you here now?"
For the same reason that you are
here" she replied readily, Ito see for
myself If the-the person who twice
came here at night-once for the am.
bassador's letters and once for his
Enthusiastically, by any chance,
make another trip. I knew you were
here. Of course"
(ro BE coNTINUED)