Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-02
CHAPTER XIX.
The Startling Message.

Cd by the dancing flame She held her
hands before her eyes. The fame per
sstently annoyed her. She moved
from her seat To pursued her.
Again she looked up; and even from
this height I could see that she was
frOwning ia her anger and annoyance.
She seated herself at another bench
But she could not shake or her tor
mentor. Il no longer beat on her face
aud person. &c moved steady toward
her. then travelled along the path OF
the promenade; trespassed into the
Garden OF a cottage; shot by the cot
taee itself; halted at a huge wooden
signboavd. on which was inscribed
long advertisement in French pro
claiming the exalted merits OF a Swiss
chocolate.
It zigzagged tremulously across the
signboard. To paused at a capital let
ter 7.
Helena had watched # curiously un-
Cd Sc disappeared into the garden.
Then she had lost interest fin fits move
mCuts. and had once more scanned
an2iously the chateau opposite.
Patiently and pcrsistenuy the little
beam Of light repeated SIS antics.
Again So moved. swiftly this time. 90
the siGuboard And now she turned I'm
her seat and watched &c until TT again
paused 40 the letter T.
Twice the mirror was flashed on tho
billboard; twice &c passed at the letter
T. 10 disaDp 90 rc3ppear az A.
a "a
other pause and again 10 vanished.
Once more 1t pointed 20 A; once more
&C. vanished.
When &c climbed the sirnboard
again. 30 wandered vaguely about as
~ seeking q iottcr. After some hcsi-
tatiou the mirrors reelection fen on
-. Thence it shot 90 B. Again Be- hes
.tated, but it last settled ON T. Once
moro 10 selected s.. Thence GA quick
succession came %. ". T.. r..
"I An A PRISONER" 70 had
spelled
But while Helena ana were stiu
staring $40 tho board. the shaft OF light
do-tcd Orb fevcrisb haste from letter 10
letter until it had spelled another
word.
FORBES"
The kings messenger had been an
Ene,'sh officer. and ono of the first
military duties a boy learns ut sand
hurst or Woolwich Ie ho'orrarhirr.
When, therefore. Captain Forbes had
seen Helena across the river and had
realized the futuity OF his shouting.
being q man OF wit and resource he
had told OF the imprisonment in this
happy method
io had dashed his message success
fully. Helena understood. She looked
upward toward tho chateau. nodded
cXcitcdly. and again eagerly watched
the sirnboard. She was not 90 Dc dts
oppoluted. The message was not quite
complete. These two words were
added.
GET HELP"
Helena made gesture OF compre-
hcnsion, and walked rapidly in The di-
rcction OF the village
And when she had summoned assist
ance? When the castle was stormed,
as it were, by gcndarmes? Ny own
peril would be extreme.
Il was hopeless 10 prevent the IN
evitable. The rescue OF Captain
Forbes would be accomplished: my
completely I'm the intrigues OF DR..
Starva and Madame de WARMER would
be taken for granted. representations
would be useless. Ny very presence
IN the chateau would be face evidence
OF my guilt.
And so I had played my desperate
game TO no purpose.
To save myself-that was my one
thought. Two courses lay before me.
Could I make my way 20 Captain
Forbes2 Could I effect his release be-
fore Helena returned with help? II
that were possible, and If I could
hastily make my position clear to the
kings messenger all might yet be
well. At least so far as the establish
ment OF my innocence was concerned.
Or I might nvertske Helena Brett
To her I might make my confession.
And II she were persuaded, not only
that ] was acting in her interests. but
that my plan to clear up Sir Morti-
mer's disappearance promised success,
I might even now be successful.
It was my fear that she would scorn-
fully refuse both TO believe my story
and to accept my aid that made me
hesitate as TO this course.
It was DR.. Starva who decided for
me.
He had appeared on the terrace be-
low, and he was following Helena
Brett.
had read Captain Forbes's message
as well as Helena. Why, then, could
there not have been a third person
interested IN the strange antics Of the
mirror? And IL this surmise were
true? If DR.. Starva or Madame de
WARMER had read the message? They
had not hesitated to use desperate ex-
pedients TO gain their purpose. Would
Or. Starva hesitate to use means as
desperate to prevent Helena from
summoning help?
asked myself this startling ques-
ton as I took the stairs two at time
to the great hall. The main entrance
was locked. For moment I thought
that / was a prisoner in the chateau as
well as Captain Forbes. Even now I
am not certain that such was not the
intention OF Madame de WARMER But
DR. StarVa had gained the terrace nv