The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-07-18
CHAPTER VII.
The Signal.

And the original question remains
unanswered" remarked Mr.. Campbell.
'The original question:" repeated
Mr.. Grimm.
Where is Prince Benedetto d'Abruz-
ri. the secret envoy?" his chief re-
minded him.
Il wonder!" unused the young man.
''If the Latin compact is signed in
the United States-?"
THE Latin compact will not be
signed in the United States" Mr..
Grimm interrupted. And then, after
a moment: Have we received any
further reports on Miss Thorne? 1
mean reports from our foreign
agents?"
The chief shook his head
Inevitably. by some act or word
she will lead us to the prince" de-
ciared Mr.. Grimm, "and the moment
he is known to us everything be-
comes plain sailing. We know she is
a secret AGENT expected a denial.
but she was quite frank about 1t. And
j had no intention whatever of placing
her under arrest / knew some one
was in the adjoining room because of
slight noise in there, and 1 knew
she knew 1t. She raised her voice
little. obviously for the benefit of
whoever was there. From that point
everything / said and did was to COM
pei that person, whoever it was, to
show himself"
His chief nodded, understandingly.
Mr.. Grimm was silent for a little, then
went on:
The last possibility in my mind at
that moment" he confessed, was that
the person in there was the man who
shot Senior Alvarez. Frankly l had
half an idea that-that IL might be the
prince in person" Suddenly his mood
changed: And now our lady of mys-
terry may come and go as she likes be-
cause / know, even II a dozen of our
men have ransacked Washington in
vain for the prince, she will inevitably
lead us to him. And that reminds me:
lead us to him."
by the way, what was in that seal
ed packet that was taken from Senior
Alvarez? Campbell inquired curiously.
at had something to do with some
railroad franchises" responded Mr..
Grimm as he rose. 81 sealed it again
and returned IL to the senior. Evident
iy It was not what Signor Petrozinni
expected to find-in> fact, he admitted
1t wasn't what he was looking for"
For little while the two men gazed
thoughtfully, each into the eyes of the
other, then Mr.. Grimm entered his
private Office where he sat for an hour
with his immaculate boots on his
desk, thinking A world-war-he had
been thrust forward by his govern
ment to prevent it-subtle blue-gray
eyes-his Highness, Prince Benedetto
d'Abruzzi-a haunting smile and scar
let lips
At about the moment he rose to go
Dut. Miss Thorne, closely yelled. left
The Venezuelan legation and walked
rapidly down the street to a corner,
where. without word, she entered a
waiting automobile. The wheels spun
and the car leaped forward For a
mile or more it wound aimlessly in
and out. occasionally bisecting it's own
path finally Miss Thorne leaned for
ward and touched the chauffeur on the
arm.
"Nowi" she said.
The car Strengthened out into
street of stately residences and scut-
tied along until the placid bosom of
the Potomac came into view; besides
that for a few minutes, then over the
bridge to the Virginia side, in the
dilapidated little city Of Alexandria.
The car did not slacken its speed, but
wound I'm and out through dingy
streets, past tumbledown negro huts.
for half an hour before IL came to a
standstill in front of an old brick
mansion
Miss Thorne entered the house with
key and was gone for ten minutes
perhaps. She was readJusting her
veil when she came out and stepped
into the car silently Again 1t moved
forward. on TO the end of the dingy
street, and finally into the open coun-
try. Three. four, FIVE miles. perhaps,
out the old Baltimore Road, and again
the car stopped. this time in front OF
an ancient colonial farmhouse.
Outwardly the place seemed to be
deserted. The blinds. battered and
stripped OF paint by wind and rain
were all closed, and one corner OF the
small veranda had crumbled away
from age and neglect narrow path
strewn with pine needles. led tortu-
Ously up to the door In the rear OF
the house. rising from an old barn. a
thin pole with a cup-like attachments
at the apex. thrust its point into the
open above the dense. odorous pines
IL appeared to be a wireless mast
Miss Thorne passed around tho house,
and entered the barn
A man came forward and kissed her
"A thin, little rnan of indeterminate
age--drying his hands on a piece Of
cotton waste His face was pale with
the pallor OF one who knowsslittle out
door life. his oyes deep-set and aglit-
tor With some feyerish inward ere.