The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-09-15
CHAPTER xll.-(continued.)

Monsieur" he went on, and there
/ was tense note in his voice, 'sthe
ambassador of France had disap-
peared. gone, vanished! We searched
the house from the cellar to the sery-
ants quarters, even the roof, but
there was no trace of him. The hat
he usually wore was in the hall, and
all his other hats were accounted for.
You may remember, Monsieur. that
Tuesday was cold, but all his top-coats
were found in their proper places. So
II seems. Monsieur" and repression
ended in a burst of excitement, IF
he left the embassy he did not go out
by either door, and he went without
Nat or coat!"
He stopped heIplessly and his gaze
Rlternated inquiringly between the be-
neyolent face Of the chief and the ex-
pressionless countenance Of Mr..
Grimm
II he left the embassy" Mr.. Grimm
repeated. 'If your search of the
house proved conclusively that he
wasn't there, he did leave 1t, didn't
he?"
Monsieur RigoIot stared at him
blankly for moment. then nodded.
And there are windows. you know
Mr.. Grimm went on, then: "As UNI
derstand 1t, Monsieur, no one except
you and the stenographer saw the
ambassador after ten o'clock in the
morning?"
1oui. monster, C'est-' Monsieur
Rigolot began excitedly. Fl beg par
don believe that Is correct"
You saw hia about ten, you say;
therefore no one except the stenog-
rapher saw him after ten o'clock?"
That Is also true. as far as know"
Amy callers? Letters? kilograms?
Telephone messages?"
Il made inquiries in that direction,
Monsieur" was the reply. II have the
words Of the servants at the door
and OF the stenographer that there
were no callers. and the statement Of
the stenographer that there were no
telephone calls or kilograms. There
were only four letters for him per-
eonally. He left them all on his
desk-here they are"
Mr.. Grimm looked them over leisure.
". They were commonplace enough,
containing nothing that might be con-
strued into . reason for the disap-
pearance.
The letters Monsieur Boissegur had
dictated were laid ON his desk by the
stenographer." Monsieur Rigolot rushed
on volubly. excitedly. I'm the anxiety
and uneasiness following the disap-
peaFance they were allowed to remain
there overnight. On Wednesday
morning. Monsieur" and he hesitated
impressiveiy-"those letters bore HIS
signature In his own handwriting!'
Mr.. Grimm turned his listless eyes
full upon Monsieur Rigolot's perturbed
race for one scant instant
mo doubt Of It being his sisnature7' r.
be queried.
Non. Monsieur. non!" the secretary
exclaimed emphatically. 4Vous avez-
that is, ! have known his signature for
years. There L. no doubt The letters
were not of private nature. II you
would care 20 look at the copies Of
them?"
He offered the duplicates tentative
iy. Mr.. Grimm read them over slowly,
the while Monsieur Rigolot sat nerv-
ously staring at him. They. too,
seemed meaningless as bearing ON the
matter In hand. Finally, Mr.. Grimm
nodded and Monsieur Rigolot re-
sumed:
sAnd Wednesday night. Monsieur,
another strange thing happened.
Monster Boissegur smokes many ciga.
rettes, OF kind made especially for
him In France. and shipped to him
here. He keeps them In case on his
dressing-tab On Thursday morning
his valet reported to me that this case
Of cigarettes had disappeared"
"Of course observed Mr.. Grimm,
Monsieur Boissegur haa iatch-koy
20 INA nx,a - ar4y