The Paonia progressive and the Paonia newspaper., 1911-09-28

MISS Thorne, he remarked as II 1t
were an explanation. Il shall not
| now"
She turned to the prince.
Your Highness, ! think 1t needless
to argue further" she said. I'VE have
no choice In the matter; there is only
once course-destroy the compact"
moi" was the curt answer.
Il believe I know Mr.. Grimm better
than you do" she argued You
think he will weaken; l know he will
not / am not arguing for him, nor
for myself: l am arguing against the
frightful loss that will come here in
this room II the compact is not de-
stroyed."
It's absurd to let one man stand in
the way" declared the prince angrily
TT might not be an impertinent
question. your Highness," commented
Mr.. Grimm. for me to ask how you
are going to prevent one man stand
ing in the way?"
A quick change came over Miss
Thorne's face. The eyes hardened,
the lips were set, and lines Mr. Grimm
had never seen appeared about the
mouth. Here. in a flash. the cloak of
discrimination was cast aside, and the
woman stood forth. this keen. bril-
liant, determined woman who did
things.
THE compact will be destroyed"
she said.
No" declared the prince.
TT must be destroyed"
Must? Must? Do you say must
to me?"
Yes. must" she repeated steadily.
And by what authority. please.
do"
by that authority" She drew a
tiny. filigreed gold box from her
bosom and cast 1t upon the table: the
prince stared at 1t. In the name of
your sovereign-must," she said
again.
The prince turned away and began
pacing back and forth across the
room with the parchment crumpled
in his hand. For a minute or more
Isabel stood watching him.
Thirteen minutes." Mr. Grimm an
nounced coldly.
And now broke out an excited chat
ter. babel of French. English. Ital-
ian. Spanish: those masked and
cowled ones who had held silence for
so long all began talking at once. One
OF them snatched a, the crumpled
compact in the princes hand. while
all crowded around him arguing. Mr.
Grimm sat perfectly still with the re-
volver barrel resting on his knees
Eleven minutesi" he announced
again.
nd arrn
ly on Miss Thorne with rage-distort-
ed face.
DO you know what II means TO
you If ] do as you say?" he demanded
savagely. 1T means you will be brand
ed as traitor. that your name. your
property"
IF you will pardon me. your High
ness" she interrupted. the power
that ] have used was given to me to
use: I have used IL. II is n matter
to be settled between me and my
government. and as far as II affects
my person Is OF no consequence now.
You will destroy the compact"
Nine minutes!" said Mr.. Grimm
monotonously.
Again the babel broke out
DO We understand that you want
to see the compact7" one of the
cowled men asked suddenly of Mr..
Grimm as he turned.
mo. ] don't want to see IT, I'D pre-
fer rot to see IT."
With hatred blazing in his eyes the
prince made his way toward the lamp.
holding a parchment toward the blaze.
There's nothing else to be done."
he exclaimed savagely.
Just a moment. please" Mr.. Grimm
interposed quickly. Miss Thorne. is
that the compact7"
She glanced at II. nodded her head.
and then the flame caught the fringed
edge of paper. II cracked. flashed.
famed. and at last. a thing OF ashes.
was scattered on the floor. Mr.. Grimm
rose
That is all. gentlemen" he an
nounced courteously. You are free to
go. You. your Highness. and Miss
Thorne. will accompany me-"
He held open the door and there
was almost a scramble to get out
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