Elusive Isabel

oom of the German embassy, ablaze with festooned lights, and brilliant with a multi-colored chaos of uniforms. Gleaming pearl-white, translucent in the mass, were the bare shoulder

irred the draperies of the archway which led into the conse

sy-a young woman severely gowned in some glistening stuff which fell away sheerly from her splendid bare shoulders. She glanced up, as if in acknowledgment of his

e?orita Rodriguez with the quick

asked Mr

person has one dominant feature-

e?" Mr. Gri

nly arrived a few days ago-the night of the state ball. She's my guest

g with the sound of the pulsing music, he had a singular impression of a rhythmical beat, an indistinct tattoo, noticeable, perhaps, only because of its monotony. After a moment he

dash-dot! Dot-dash-

h a long stare into the se?orita's pretty face. Behind the careless ea

Dot-dash-dot!

of staring, Mr. Grimm?" deman

is listless eyes swept the ball-room, pausing involunta

ly. There was a pause. "The minister from T

rne. She was still talking, her face alive with interest; and the fan

dash-dot! Dot-dash-

ggested indolently. "Haroun el Raschid there would agree with me on that point, I have no doub

Dot-dash-dot!

the Morse code, the call of one operator to another. Was it acci

observe, is clothed sanely and modestly, as befits the representative of a great nation; but coming on down by way of Spain and Italy, the

fan was calli

f a violent sneeze, a vociferous outburst on a bench directly beh

ed me," sh

tory," said a man's voice apologetically. "Do yo

attached to the German embassy in an advisory capacity. Among other things he was a Heidelberg man, having spent so

underwent a change. There was a flutter of gaiety

! Dash-dash-dash!

Morse. He laughed pleasantly

-dash! Dash-dot

ess eyes roved aimlessly over the throng. "S-t-5-u-t m

ot! Dot! Da

," tha

! Dot-dash! Dash-

face. Instead he began talking of Raphael's cherubs, the remark being called into life by the high complexion of a young man

t! Dot-dash!

Grimm was still

d by the quizzical lines about his mouth. As he caught it, it was like this: " J-5-n-s-e-f-v-

mble away in some recess of his br

n, on to the end: "B-f-i-n-

tter of the fan against the arm of the

an ice?" Mr. Gr

back I'll reward you by presenting you to Miss Thorne. You'll find

d when Mr. Rankin lounged along in front of Miss Thorn

'm delighted to see you here. I unde

to Mr. Cadwallader. A thin slip of paper, thrice folded, passed from Mr. Rankin to he

?" Miss Thorne as

can't say,"

explained hastily, "and now

arm, and together they glided away through

id quite calmly to Mr. Rankin. "Please h

nd," he rep