The Columbus journal., 1907-06-12

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mer Bsett - at this Aoesl9 Certainly
you win not tan hec."
He thrust hlB B,spectacled, pallid faco
close to that Of The trenbling servant
Thea releasing him suddealy, he
pushed him without. the little coa-
cerge rubbing his shoulder ruefully.
Immediately he regretted this. On.
necessary violence. He stepped out
into the corridor. and I guessed that
he had smoothed the injured vanity oe
the gold-laced oAlcial with moro Of the
crisp notes.
He had scarcely entered the room
again before he admitted Madame de
Vernier. and again the key was turned.
They lost no time in vain talk or
concentrations ON the success of their
trick, whatever its meaning might be.
DR.. Starva half led, half carried me
into q bedroom adjoining. There I
was put to bed with as little cere-
mony as a helpless infant is disposed
Of for the night. For moment Starva
looked down on me grimly. Then he
disappeared, closing the door care
fully behind him.
Now, indeed, understood why
Helena Brett and her mother had been
so startled when first they had seen
newly Madame de Varnier had
shown herself no less concerned-why
I had caught DR.. Starva spying on me
-why 1t was plotted that should be
drugged and brought hither in this
melodramatic fashion.
In the worlds history there have
been many instances of men playing
the pretender, but certainly none
more innocent than myself. I should
be dense indeed now did fail to COM
prehend everything-from Madame de
Varnier's first greeting, to the episode
of the cloak and hat.
I recalled the woman'A CHASTITY de-
spair when she had read the telegram
in the kursaal. He is dead" she had
repeated over and over.
Sir Mortimer Brett, minister pleni.
potentiary at the court of Sofa, was
dead. The adventurers for some pur'
pose of their own. not yet to be
guessed, had deliberately planned that
1 be mistaken for him at this hotel.
That the ambassador was dead waa
a bitter disappointment to my hopes
The opportunity to fulfill the task that
Helena had given me was not to be
mine after all. And now that knew
that, what further excuse had to be
as clay in the hands Of these people!
I was tempted to burst into the room
there. to prick the bubble of their In
trigue.
But II 1 did that, though I might baf
le the execution of their plans.
should be utterly ignorant as to the
nature of those plans. The danger tc
myself in continuing to play the role
of accomplice was very great. The Of
ficers of the law would not be SO touch
ingly simple as to believe that I wa.
abetting the plans of this precious
couple only with view of bringing
them to final justice.
But much more alarming than posi-
BILE danger to myself was the fact thai
Helena Brett was in this hotel.
Before morning cruel but JUS
chance might bring us face to face
and in her eyes should stand con
victed of the grossest villainy. Will
diabolical cunning, DIR. Starva had in
sisted that was Mr.. Haddon. and ye
he had deliberately planned that l bs
mistaken for Sir Mortimer Brett. Th>
intent to deceive was obvious.
/ When that were proved, on my heat
would fall the greatest censure. Fol
who would believe that l was an limo
cent victim? But I had gone too IA
to retreat now. Or rather, had no
gone far enough. Granted that 81
Mortimer Brett we're dead, and tina
my elaborate plans to rescue him from
the hands of these adventures were ,
failure. the fact remained that TO
some dark purpose Of their own th'
conspirators were either concealin,
the knowledge of his death, or wer'
using that knowledge for some bas'
purpose. They must be brought Il
Justice. That justice could be obtaine'
surely and swiftly only at risk to my
self.
How.many minutes had passed now
Dared l move, dared I even open m,
eyes? For aught I knew they wer
lwatching me, were even In the room
lat this instant. I lay quite still. breath
ing stertorously.
The handle of the door was turne'
sharply. I heard the weight Of DI
Starva thrown against 1t as 1t jamme'
and for some moments resisted hi
efforts.
The fare Of an electric light fell o.
my face. He stood at my bedside.
muttered incoherently, tossing about
and turning my face from the glare
Then 1 was alone again.
! was in a room little larger thai
an American hall bedroom. The
were cavalier enough of the dignity Q
Sir Mortimer Brett's understudy.
must be lying in the chamber Of tn
valet and not Of the master. e,
I leaped lightly to the floor, I tiT
toed to the closed door. To my COZ
sternation it was too tightly closed t
permit me to see anything in the roou
beyond. It had creaked loudly. In n
sisting Dr.. Starva's efforts: certainl
1 was not 30 rash rs to attempt +
open It, however cautiously IN
ro BE CONTINUED,
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