The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1911-03-01
CHAPTER v.
A Visit to the Count.


The bland serenity of Mr.. Camp
bells face was disturbed by thin,
spidery lines of perplexity, and the
guileless blue eyes were vacant as he
stared at the top of his desk. Mr..
Grimm was talking.
From the moment Miss Thorne
turned the corner lost all trace OF
her." he said. Either she had an au-
tomoble in waiting, or else she was
lucky enough to find one Immediately
she came out. She did not return to
the embassy ball last night-that
much is certain" He paused refiec-
lively. she is a guest of Senorita
Inez Rodriguez at the Venezuelan le-
CATION" he added.
Yes, know" his chief nodded
81 didn't attempt to see her there
last night for two reasons" Mr..
Grimm continued. First, she can
have no possible knowledge Of the
fact that she is suspected, unless per-
haps the man who slammed the
door" He paused. Anyway, she
will not attempt to leave Washington;
l am confident of that Again, it didn't
seem wise to me to employ the ordi-
nary crude police methods in the case
that is, go to the Venezuelan lega-
ton and pick up row."
For a long time Campbell was ST.
lent; the perplexed lines still furrowed
his benevolent forehead.
L. hat
we get to facts in this reported Latin
alliance as soon as possible" he said
at last, irrelevantly. HE mentioned
the matter last night, and he has
been keeping In constant communities
ton with Gault in Lisbon who, how.
ever, has not been able to add ma
terially to the original dispatch. I'm
der all the circumstances don't you
think il would be best for me to re-
lieve you of the investigation Of this
shooting affair so that you can con
centrate on this greater and more I'm
portant thing?"
"Will Senior Alvarez die?' asked Mr..
Grimm In turn.
His condition is serious, although
the wound is not necessarily fatal,
was the reply.
Mr.. Grimm arose, stretched his long
legs and stood for a little while gazing
out the window. Finally he turned to
his chief.
What do we know, here In the bu
reau, about Miss Thorne?"
This far the reports on her are o.
the usual perfunctory nature" Mr.
Campbell explained. He drew card
from a pigeonhole of his desk and
| glanced at 1t. She arrived in Wash
ington two weeks and two days age
| from New York, off the Lusitania
from Liverpool. She brought some
sort of introduction to Count di Ros
mi, the Italian ambassador, and he OBJ
tanned for her a special invitation tC
the state ball, which was held tina
night. Until four days ago she wal
a guest at the Italian embassy, bu
now, as you know, is a guest at thu
Venezuelan legation Since her ar
rival here she has been PROMINENT!
| pushed forward into society; she hal
gone everywhere, and been received
| everywhere in the diplomatic set. W.
have nc knowledge Q! her bcyoI;
this"
There was question in Mr.. Grimm
listless eyes as they met those of tn
chief The same line of thought wa
running in both their minds, born, pei
haps, of the association Of ideas-Ital
as one of the three great nation
known to be in the Latin compact
Prince Benedetto d'Abruzzi of Italy
the secret envoy Of three countries
the sudden appearance of Mis-
Thorne at the Italian embassy. An
in the mind of the younger man Their
was more than this-a definite know
edge of a message cunningly trans
mitted to Mr.. Rankin of the Germal
embassy. by Miss Thorne there in tn
ballroom.
! Can YOU imagine" be asked sloY