Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-10-18
for half . dozen years" Miss Thorn.


Toxic, later in Berlin, and within a
few weeks. here in Washington. You
see I have travelled in the time
have been an agent for my govern.
ment Well, Madame Boissegur re-
{ ceived this letter about half-past four
o'clock this afternoon; and about half
past five she sent for me and placed
it in my hands. together with the
singular details following upon the am
bassador's disappearance. So. II
would seem that you and | are allies
for this once, and the problem is al
ready solved There merely remains
the task of finding and releasing the
ambassador"
Mr.. Grimm sat perfectly still
"And why" he asked, slowly, ARE
you here now?"
For the same reason that you are
here" she replied readily, ito see for
myself if the-the person who twice
came here at night-once for the am
bassador's letters and once for his
cigarettes-would. by any chance,
make another trip. l knew you were
mere. Oh course.
You knew l was here" repeated
Mr. Grimm musingly And may II"
Just as you knew that ], or some
one. at least, had entered this house
few minutes ago" she interrupted
1.-THE automobile horn outside was
signal, wasn't it? Hastings was in the
car? Or was it Blair or Johnson
Mr. Grimm did not say.
Didn't you anticipate any person
al danger when you entered?" he
queried instead Weren't you afraid
might shoot?"
No"
There was a long silence. Mr..
Grimm still sat with his elbows on his
knees, staring at the vague white
spotch which was Miss Thorne's face
and bare neck. One of her white arms
hung at her side like pallid serpent,
and her hand was at rest on the seat
of the couch.
1T seems. Miss Thorne.' he said
at length casually. that our paths OF
duty are inextricably tangled. Twice
previously we have met under cir
cumstances that were more than
strange, and now-thisl Whatever in
justice l may have done you in the
past by my suspicious has, hope,
been forgiven; and in each instance
we were able to work side by side to-
ward a conclusion. | am wondering
now if this singular affair will take
a similar course"
He paused Miss Thorne started to
speak, but he silenced her with a
slight gesture of his hand.
1T is only fair to you to say that
we-that is, the Secret Service-have
learned many things about you" he
resumed in the same casual tone. 1--WE
have. through our foreign agents,
traced you step by step from Rome
to Washington. We know that you
are, in a way, a representative of
sovereign of Europe; we know that
you were on a secret mission to the
Spanish court, perhaps for this sover-
eign, and remained in Madrid for a
month; we know that from there you
went to Paris, also on secret mis-
sion-perhaps the same-and re-
manned there for three weeks; we know
that you met diplomatic agents of
those governments later in London.
We know all this; we know the man.
ner of your coming to this country;
of your coming to Washington. But
we don't know why you are here"
Again she started to speak, and
again he stopped her.
I'VE don't know your name, but that
is of no consequence. We do know
that in Spain you were Sonora Cas-
savant, in Paris Mademoiselle d'Aubi- |
non, In London Miss Jane Kellogg, |
and here Miss Isabel Thorne. We re-
alize that exigencies arise In your call
ing, and mine, which make changes OF /
name desirable. necessary even, and |
there is no criticism OF that Now an
the representative of your govern
a government-you have
a right to be here, although unaccred-
tied; you have right to remain here
as long as your acts are consistent
with our laws; you have right to
your secrets as long as they do not,
directly or Indirectly. threaten the
welfare OF this country Now. why
are you here?"
He received no answer; he expected
none. After a moment he went on:
Admitting that you are a secret
agent of Italy. admitting everything
hat you claim to be, you haven't con-
,inced me that you are not the person
who came here for the letters and
cigarettes. You have said nothing to
,rove to my satisfaction that you are
lot the individual was waiting for to-
light"
You don't mean that you sus-
she began in tone of amaze
nent
81 don't mean that l suspect any
hing" he interposed. 81 mean merely
hat you haven't convinced me.
there's nothing inconsistent In the
act that you are what you say you
re, and that in spite OF that, you
anne tonight for"
He was interrupted by a laugh,
a.