The Harrison times., 1911-12-23
CHAPTER XI.
Tho Lace Handkerchief.

Still wearing the graceful, fllmy
morning gown, with an added touch
OF scarlet In her hair-a single red
rose-Miss Thorno came into the
drawing.room where Mr., Grimm rat
waiting There was curiosity In her
manner thlnly yelled, but the haunt.
ing smile still fingered about her lips,
Mr. Grimm bowed low, and placed n
chair for her, after which he stood
for n time staring down at one slim,
white hand at rest on the arm OF the
seat, At last he, too sat down
81 believe he said slowly, without
preliminaries, this is your hanlker.
chief?"
Ho offered the lacy trine odd IA do.
sign, unique In workmanship, obvious.
ly Of foreign texture, and she &C.
cepted It.
YES" sho agreed readily Il must
have dropped 1t again"
THAT Is the one handed to you by
Senior Rodriguez" Mr.. Grimm told
her 81 think you said you lost II in
his ONCE yesterday afternoon7'
"Yes?" She nodded inqulrIngly
1T may interest you to know that
Senior Rodriguezs butler positively
Identifies It as one he restored to you
twice at dinner last evening, between
seven and nine o'clock" Mr. Grimm
went on dlspassionately
indeed" exclaimed Miss Thorne.
"The senior Identifies It as one no
found this morning In his Office" Mr.,
Grimm explained obligngly, Daring
the night fifty thousand dollarS In
gold were stolen from his safe"
Miss Thorno sat motionloss, wait
Ing,
"All this means-what7" she muir
Cd at length,
"Tll trouble you, please, to return
tho money" requested Mr., Grimm
courteously, mo reason appears why
you should have taken II, But I'p not
seeking reasons, nor am seekinl dis
agreeable publlelty-only the money"
1T seems to mo you attach mlduo
Importance to tho handkerchief" she
objected
That's matter Of opinion" Mr..
Grimm remarked. 1T would bs use
less, even tedious, to attempt 10 dis
prove a burglar theory but against II
10 tho difficulty Of entrance, tao
weight Of tho gold, tho ingenious moth
cd OF opening the safe, and the ~
sumption that not moro than six pSr-
sons knew tho money was In tho safes
Nhils person In tho house might
have learned Il In any OF a d9asa
ways And, In addition, Ia the fact
that the handkerchief IL odd, nerS
fore noticeable, A lace export assures
me thors's probably not another Ike
Il IN tho world"
Ho Btopped, Miss Thorns's syos
spnrkled and o 6milc soomod " bs
Juggling at tho cornors Of hor mouth
she nprend out tho handkerchief on
her knees,
you could Identify thla again, VI
eourae7" she queried,
yes"
She thouRhtfully crumpled up tha
bit OF lace In both hands, then opened
thom, There were two handkerchief
now-they were identical
(Which IA H. pleaBo2" ehe asked,
II Mr. Grimm was disappointed
thero was not traes Of II on hls fNoo,
She laughed outright, gleohlly mock
lngly, then, demurNly'
Pardon me You see, ia hbuurd.
The handkerchief tho butler restored
TO mo at dinner, after lost ono IN tbs
aonor's oflleo, might have been either
OF these, or ono Of ton other dup'i
Gates IN my room, nll given 10 mo ~
hor Mai | moOn" ahc corrected
quickly, "by friend In Europe" sho
was silent for a moment "ls that nll'"
mo" replied Mr. Grimm grayely,
deolslyely, I'm not satisfied shall
insist upon tho return Of tho money,
and II II IN not forthcoming dare say
Count dl Roalni the Italian amhaasn,
dor, would be pleaeed TO give hlh pNr
sonal check rather than have tho nab
ter become public She started ~
interrupt, but he went on. IN any
event you will be requested to leave
tho country"
Then, and not until then, n decIdea
change came over Miss Thorno's fato
A deeper color leaped to her checks,
tho smile faded from her lips, and
'hero was fash OF uneaslneao In her
eyes,
GRO nm CoNTtNuEp)