Good day."
XXV
WE TWO
Mr. Grimm turned from Pennsylvania Avenue into a cross street, walked
along half a block or so, climbed a short flight of stairs and entered
an office.
"Is Mr. Howard in?" he queried of a boy in attendance.
"Name, please."
Mr. Grimm handed over a sealed envelope which bore the official imprint
of the Department of War in the upper left hand corner; and the boy
disappeared into a room beyond. A moment later he emerged and held open
the door for Mr. Grimm. A gentleman--Mr. Howard--rose from his seat and
stared at him as he entered.
"This note, Mr. Grimm, is surprising," he remarked.
"It is only a request from the secretary of war that I be permitted to
meet the inventor of the wireless percussion cap," Mr. Grimm explained
carelessly. "The negotiations have reached a point where the War
Department must have one or two questions answered directly by the
inventor. Simple enough, you see."
"But it has been understood, and I have personally impressed it upon the
secretary of war that such a meeting is impossible," objected Mr.
Howard. "All negotiations have been conducted through me, and I have, as
attorney for the inventor, the right to answer any question that may
properly be answered.
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