The Harrison times., 1912-06-15

| ture. His face was blOodlesS,
"If any man." and Mr., Grimm gave
Miss Thorne a quick glance, Il should
say. any person, attempts to leave this
room | know he will die; and there's
bare chance that the percussion cap
will fail to work can account for
six Of you, II there Is rush"
But, man, If that mine explodes we
shall all be killed-blown to pieces!
burst from one OF the cowled figures.
III the percussion cap works" sup
plemented MT Grimm.
Mingled emotion struggled In the
flushed face Of Isabel as she studied
Mr. Grimms impassive countenance'
81 have never disappointed you yet,
Miss Thorne," he remarked as II IT
were an explanation. Il shall not
now"
She turned to the prince.
Your Highness, think 1t needless
to argue further" she said, 1--WE have
no choice in the matter; there is only
once course-destroy the compact"
"No!" was the curt answer
"I believe ] know Mr.. Grimm better
than you do" she argued. you
think he will weaken; ] know he viii
not. am not arguing for him, nor
for myself; ! am arguing against the
frightful loss that will come here in
this room II the compact Is not de-
stroyed"
ITS absurd to let one man stand In
the way" declared the prince angrily,
ut might not be an impertinent
question, your Highness," commented
Mr.. Grimm, "for me to ask how you
are going to prevent one man stand
ing in the way?"
A quick change came over Miss
Thorne's face. The eyes hardened,
the lips we're set, and lines Mr., Grimm
had never seen appeared about the
mouth, Here, In fash, the cloak OF
dsslmulation was cast aside, and the
woman stood forth, this keen, bril-
liant, determined woman who did
things.
"Tho compact viii be destroyed"
she said
mo" declared the prince,
"It must be destroyed"
Must? Must? DO you say must
to mo?'
eyes, must" she repeated steadily,
"And by what authority please,
do"
"By that authority" She drew n
tiny Aligreed gold box from her
bosom and cast It upon the table; tho
prince stared at &C. "ln the name OF
your sovereign must" she said
again
The prince turned away and began
pacing back and forth across the
room with the parchment crumrlod
IN his hand For minute or more
Isabel stood Watching him,
"Thlrteen mnutosl" Mr.. Grimm an
nouncod coldly,
And now broke out an excited chat
ter. a babel Of French, English, ital.
ian, Spanish; those masked and
cowlod ones who had held silence for
30 long all began talking at once, ono
Of them 8n0tched Ot the crumplod
compact IN the princes hand, whIlo
all crowded around him arguing, Mr.,
Grimm sat perfectly etlll with the re.
yolvor barrel resting on his knees
eleven mlnutosN he announced
again,
Suddenly The prince turned violent
~ on Miss Thmno with rOgodI8tort'
cd face
"Do you know what II means 20
you # do ~ You sOy2' be- demanded
goyogoly 1T means you viii be brand
cd N8 traitor, that your name, your
property"
M you viii pardon me, your High.
ness" she interrupted, "tho power
that / have used was given to me to
use; / hOyo used IT, It Is n matter
to be aottlod between mo and my
government, and N8 far ~ II affects
my person Ia Of no consequence now,
You will destroy the compact
mine mnuteB'" said MIR Grimm
mon0t0nouBly
Again The babel broke out
no We understand that you want
20 see the compact" one Of the
c0wlod men asked suddenly Of Mr.
Grimm ~ ho turned
mo, don't want 10 SEQ H. I'd pro-
for rot 70 zee IT,
with hatred blazing IN hiB eyes the
prince made his way toward the lamp,
holding n parchment toward the blaze
"Thofoa nothing else TO be done"
ho exclaimed HNyngoly
"lust n moment please Mr. Grimm
Interpoaed quickly 'MlsH ThornoD N
that the eompaet2"
She glanced at IT, nodded her head,
and then the fame caught the frlhged
edge Of paper, II tfackled, flashed,
famed and at last, n thing Of ashes,
was scattered on tho floor Mr. Grimm
rose,
"'fhat Ia all gentlemen" he an
h0uneed eourteouHly. you are free 60
go You, your lIghness and Miss
'fh0fne, viii accompany me-"
Ito hSld nbpn lhn donp ana thpFH