The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-09-06
CHAPTER xxx.
I Open the Safe.

true. ana too horrible.
DO not believe IT," said obstinate
ly Tt is impossible"
can one deny a fact? Am a child
IN be solaced with smooth words?
have seen: | must believe. though God
knows the truth ma Ses me wish hun
dred times that | lay beside my poor
dlSgraced brother"
It is always painful to see one whom
We respect the prey of an emotion un-
controlled. 1t was doubly painful for
me to see this strong woman. whose
dominant quality was courage and
CAIN. writhe under the blow that de-
pcived her for the moment of all
power to think coherentiy. | dared
not tell her my belief that ] held the
combination OF the safe, and that be-
fore many minutes were passed |
might have the papers IN my posses
sion.
The woman who tortured us both
stood at the threshold Of the little
room Helena had just left. malevo-
lent figure in her hour II triumph.
As looked toward her, tempted 10 eX-
pei her brutally from that room, and II
my 5urmise was false, 10 force from
her. even by violence. II necessary,
the combination of the safe, she with
drew hastily. leaving Helena and my
self alone. II was then that | feared
tue worst. She had appealed TO Hell
ena. She was confident )f her sue
cess
Still held Heleua's hands tightly in
mae. wished 20 give back to her
her poise. her calm courage.
Mr. Haddon," she whispered pres
ently. "do you thinks it possible
to 10 this thing?"
~ is possible: but it would be the
act If a mailman and liar | said
gently.
You say it is possible" She with
drew her hands almost roughly. Her
voice was monOtonous and harsh.
Then you will save us, mother and
myself. from this deep disgrace
There is no service that l would
not 10 for you. Miss Brett. that would
bring you peace AMI happiness-'
Peace! Happincss." she interrupt
cd with fierce remonstrance. Il do
not look for peace or happiness. Hon
Or itself-and the motto of the Bretts
rs Honor. Ny Sword'-can no longer
ne our proud boast But If silence can
he purchased it must be. dare not
let my brothers. name be held in re-
proach ] dare not. | cannot, for his
mothers sake, let it be known that he
uas been fo 70 England
We may ave him if
Yes" 50 broke in with a strange
exuItancy that was even more dread
rul to me than her despair, and it is
YOU whom | have despised that is to
save us. A life for life-those were
Che words | said to you at Lucerne.
Now it is to be dlshonor for dishonor.
/ am asking you a terrible sacrifice. |
am dragging You with me TO the
depths But there is no other to help
W. Say that YOU will"
Your grief rObs you of your rea-
son" said gently. Escape is not to
be found in that way. 1t is the last
hope of desperate and INSCRIPTIONS
ndventuress, who has herself little
hope Of success II is her last card,
and she will lose nothing by playing
IT, But we. you and |, we risk every
thing"
All. you refuse. You are afraid of
the risks. | might have known you
would be afraid. That woman said
that it was hopeless to ask a service |
so heroic from one who was a proven |
oh, forgive me, | did not mean to
say that"
Miss Brett, l think there is no dis
grace | would not gladly endure to |
help you swore to rescue your /
brothers honor If II were possible. II |
| could do so now, though | sacrificed |
myself | tell you ! would More than
tLat, though every instinct tells me !
that ! should fail, | will do what you
ask even now
Heaven bless you!" She cried
Drokenb
But first OF all want you to realize
clearly just what you are asking.
want you to be quite sure that you are
not adding dishonor to dlshonor i'm
asking me 60 do this thing No; it is
not that / am afraid. have not that
kind of fear. But | think that neither
of us should be SO cowardly as to yield
Co this woman's demands l., the ora
tory yonder lies your brot.h. Ask
yourself. when you see him, IL it is
merely the mercIful hand of death that
has smoothed his forehead, or whether
the calm and serenity is that of a man
who held the motto of his house, Hon
or. My Sword"
This appeal was perhaps not wholly
sincere. One cannot deny facts be-
cause one wishes to. IL still seemed
~ me that 1t must be true that Sir
Mortimer was proven guilty of taking
bribes.
Nor did dare tell Helena now of
my wild conjecture. | dared not raise
her hopes at the risk of a speedy dis.
Once the papers were
In my possession. together we could /
defy Madame de Varnier And If dis