Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-08-21
CHAPTER xix.-continued.


And when she had summoned assist
ance? When the castle was stormed
as it were, by gendarmes? My OWE
peril would be extreme.
It was hopeless to prevent the In
evitable. The rescue of Captain
Forbes would be accomplished; my
completely in the intrigues of DR.
Starva and Madame de WARMER would
be taken for granted. approximations
would be useless. My very presence
In the chateau would be face evidence
of my guilt.
And SO had played my desperate
game to no purpose.
To save myself-that was my one
thought. Two courses lay before me.
Could make my way to Captain
Forbes? Could I effect his release be-
fore Helena returned with help? If
that were possible, and If 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 1 might overtake Helena Brett.
To her I might make my confession.
And If 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.
| 1t 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 third person
interested in the strange antics of the
mirror? And If 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
DR.. Starva hesitate to use means as
desperate to prevent Helena from
summoning help?
I asked myself this startling ques-
ton as took the stairs two at time
to the great hall. The main entrance
was locked. For moment thought
that was a prisoner in the chateau as
well as Captain Forbes. Even now
am not certain that such was not the
intention of Madame de WARMER. But
DR.. Starva had gained the terrace by
small door close by the spiral STAIR
case. In his haste he had forgotten to
lock this door.
Desperate as was my own haste /
took the precaution of locking the side
door after me and placing the key in
my pocket. My reasons for this were
vague enough. It was an instinct that
prompted me to take the precaution
rather than deliberate reflection. But
perhaps 1 might be able to regain the
chateau in due time by this side en-
trance, and none be the wiser. For
as far as l knew I had effected my
exit unobserved.
In the meanwhile ran swiftly after
Helena and DR.. Starva. l had lost
sight of both. / soon came to an end
of the promenade. 1t led directly into
the main street of the village Now
that I had gained the village street
looked eagerly about for them Neither
was in sight. / guessed that Helena
Brett would make her way as soon as
possible to the hotel where she was
known. What hotel? That was the
question.
/ halted an urchin and asked him
the name of the best hotel in Alter
hoffen. ooh, the Grand hotel" he an
swered without hesitation; "that is
where all the English lords and Amer
lean millionaires stay"
Then let him take me hither: I
tempted him with a franc.
Evidently the gentleman is in
hurry"
assured him that I was, and prom
ised him two francs if l could reach
the hotel before a lady whom I was
following.
Then. the gentleman must go by
the short cut"
sped after the urchin down the vii
iage street.
This street is one of the most quaint
In the whole world. There are two
stories Of shops on either side. The
pavement of the shops below is rooted
over; this covered passageway is the
pavement for the second series of
shops above. was on the lower pave
ment, and this explains how 1 was
able to reach fight of steps, the cut
the youngster had promised, before
Helena or DR.. Starya.
At the foot of these steps the young
ster bolted, assuring me that should
find the hotel when had reached the
top Of the fight.
These steps pierced a wall of one
of the houses of the village street.
The fight was straight for the first
20 or so. then it turned curiously on
a little landing at right angles. Here
was IN semi-darkness. CROPPED my
way for the continuance of the fight.