The Tupelo journal., 1911-10-20
CHAPTER XIII.
The Percussion Cap.

~H
The cowled figures had risen omin-
#Sously; Miss Thorne paled behind her
mask, and her fingers gripped her
#palms iercely, still she sat motion
less. Prince d'Abruzzi broke the ST.
lence. He seemed perfectly calm and
self possessed.
How did you get in?' he demand
ed.
"Throttled you guard at the front
@door, took him down cellar and locked
#him In the coal-bin," replied Mr..
Grimm tersely. Il am waiting for
you 10 urn It,"
And how did you escape from
from the other placer"
Mr.. Grimm shrugged his shoulders.
"The lamp is in front of you," he
said.
And find your way here?' the
prince pursued.
Again Mr.. Grimm shrugged his
shoulders. For an instant longer the
prince gazed straight into his In
U scrutable face, then turned accusing
eyes on the masked figures about him.
q rs there a %traitor?" he demanded
suddenly. His gaze settled on Miss
Thorne and fingered there.
Il can relieve your mind on that
point-there is not" Mr.. Grimm as
sured him. Just a final word, your
Highness, if you will permit me.
have heard everything that has been
said here for the last fifteen minutes.
The details of your percussion cap are
interesting. | shall lay theSl before
my government and my government
may take it upon itsef to lay them
before the British government. You
yourself said a few miDutes ago that
this compact a not possible before
this cap was invented and perfected.
i 1t isn't possible the minute my gov
eminent is warned against its use.
That will be my first duty"
You are giving some very excellent
reasons, Mr.. Grimm" vas the DELHI
crate reply, why you should not be
4 permitted to leave this room alive"
Further" Mr.. Grimm resumed in
the same tone, Il have been ordered
! to prevent the signing of that com
pact, at least in this country. 1t seems
4 that | am barely in time. If it Is
'signed-and it will be useless o on
your own statement unless you MUIR
der me-every man who signs 1t will
+ have to reckon with the highest pow
er of this country. Will you destroy
1t? | don't want to know what coun-
tries already stand committed by the
signatures there"
II will not" was the steady re-
Spouse. And then, after a little: "Mr.
insignificant as 1t seems, will receive
millions for 1t. Your silence would be
worth-just how much?"
Mr.. Grimm's face turned red. then
white again.
(which would you prefer? An in
dependence by virtue of a great for
tune, or-or the other thing"
Suddenly Miss Thorne tore the
mask from her face and came for
ward. Her cheeks were scarlet, and
LANCER famed in the blue-gray eyes.
Mr.. Grimm has no price-I hap
Ipen to know that" she declared holly.
"Neither money nor a consideration
for his own personal safety will make
him turn traitor" She stared coldly
iinto the princes eyes. And we are
mot assassins here" she added.
Miss Thorne has stated the mat
tier fairly, I believe, your Highness,"
and Mr.. Grimm permitted his eyes to
finger a moment on the flushed face
of his woman who, in a way, was de-
tending him. But there is only one
thing to do, Miss Thorne." He was
talking to her now. There is no mid
IDLE course. 1t is a problem that has
only one possible answer-the de-
struction Of that document, and the
departure of you, and you, your High
ness. for Italy under my personal
care all the way. | imagined this
matter had ended that day on the
steamer; 1t will end here, now. to
might"
The prince glanced again at his
watch, Their thoughtfully weighed the
percussion cap In his hand. after
which, with q curious laugh. he walk
~ ONCi W tIC EQudt AOA 9AOSC
opposite corner OF the room. He bent
over it hail a minute. then straight
ened up.
That cap, Mr.. Grimm, has one dis
advantage" he remarked casually.
when it is attached to a mine or
torpedo 1t can not be disconnected
without firing It. 1t is attached" He
turned to the others. 1T is needless
to discuss the matter further Just
now. If you will follow me-! We
wfikleave Mr.. Grimm here"
With a strange little cry. neither
anger nor anguish. yet oddly partak-
ing Of the quality of each, Isabel went
quickly to the prince.
"How dare you do such = thing!
I she demanded fiercely. 1T H. muir
der"
"This Is not . time, Miss Thorne.
for your interference" replied the
prince coldly. 1T has all passed be-