Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-26

ment. he turned 20 the others:
II must speak TO Sir Mortimer
alone"
saw Stsrva grasp the revolver con
oeslod beneath his coat. Madame de-
WARMER silenced the protests on his
lips with a meaning glance. She real
iIed the uselessness OF further resist
Ance.
You viii not excite him more than
necessary" shs entreated anxiously.
And you must not be surprised TO
IND bis mind stin confused as result
OF the opiate Fivsn him"
''I shall spare him as far az possi-
bic" Forbes replied with some stern
ness. Drawing himself erect. his arms
folded. he waited until the door had
closed behind them.
Ny frst impulse was 90 put an end
20 this farce. But again I hesltated.
They we're listening outside that door;
every suspicion was alert: the slight.
est cause would fan tho suspicion 20
n fame.
Aud then. what? should have
made myself ridiculous 20 no purpose.
had gone far in my reckless venture
too Tar TO risk all by atEmpting 20
warn Captain Forbes at this crucial
moment. His brain worked too slowly
he was too deficient ia Imagination
too much lacking in subtety and
nncsse. I refuscd-reCklessly n you
will. but deliberately-to risk the sue
cesS OF my scheme by drumming into
the duh brain OF Captain Forbes the
- q 30 I'D H.
taken him a good quarter OF an hour
20 grasp merely the facts. At that
time he would understand just enough
OF them 10 be stubbornly convinced
that / was equally involved with the
other two, but he would think my
nerve had failed me and that I was
attempting TO purchase my own free.
dom from punishment at the expense
OF the others. And certainly they
would drag me down with them. II
for no other purpose than revenge.
No; this was not the hour for conf
cencss; Captain Forbes was not the
man 20 be made q conhdant at such
al hour
He looked down AZ me with cold re-
spect. Outwardly I met his steady
book with something OF fortitude and
composure. but beneath the clothes
my two hands were cienched rigid.
From = silk bag suspended about
his neck he produced two envelopes.
He weighed them IN his hand a mo-
nent; then DE placed the bull1er OF
the two in its silk case The other
he held toward me.
; The Foreign Office, sir, has intrust-
cd 20 ne two dispatches. NV orders
/ are to place them in your hands at the
earliest opportunity. But one Of these
! dispatches I know to be OF great i'm
portsnee. I shall therefore keep It for
the present, unless you demand it."
mo. no" 1 muttered hoarsely. II
cannot receive IT now"
Then tomorrow, sir. 7 shall hope TO
find you IN better health. Then I shall
give You the second dispatch. This
one I leave with you now, and may
suggest that you read 1t at your
& earliest convenience"
/ I took refuge in silence. I closed
my eyes YEARLY.
! Before bid you good night, sir. I
think It right that you should know
that your mother and sister are in this
hotel. At the risk that you think me
= impairment / dare TO hope that your
meeting with them tomorrow may be
free from any embarrassment O! I'M
happiness"
He bowed stifiy and left the room.
/ stared after him vacantly.
! The dispatrh he had left, gorgeous
and brave with its royal crest and en-
bossing, lay passively In my hand.
And now new dilemma confronted
me. was supposed to be under the
influence OF an opiate; they would not
seruple 20 take frcra me the dispatch.
To allow that might give them such In
formation az would make their con-
sriracy. whatever It's nature. the more