Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-12
CHAPTER XIX.-continued.

rs ~ we're, ny BeuudTlntS NY oWh
peril would be extreme.
1t was hopeless to prevent the In.
evitable. The rescue Of Captain
Forbes would be accomplished; my
completely in the intrigues of DIR.
Starva and Madame de sVarnier would
be taken for granted. Expostulations
would be useless, My very presence
In the chateau would be face evidence
OF my guilt.
And SO l had played my desperate
game to no purpose.
To save myself-that was my one
thought. Two courses lay before me
Gould I make my way to Captain
Forbes? Could l effect his release be-
fore Helena returned with help? II
that we're possible, and II | 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 overtake Helena Brett.
To her ! might make my confession.
And II she were persuaded. not only
that I was acting in her interests, but
that my plan to clear up Sir Morti.
Her'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.
II was DR., Starva who decided for
me.
He hul apnnaraI ON the forrapa ho.
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 II this surmise were
true? II DR.. Starva or Madame do
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?
l asked myself this startling ques-
ton as l took the stairs two at a time
to the great hall. The main entrance
was locked. For d moment / thought
that I was a prisoner in the chateau as
we'll 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 by
a 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
prompted me to take the precaution
rather than deliberate reflection. But
perhaps ! might be able to regain the
chateau In due time by this side en-
trance, and none be the wiser. For
as far as | knew l had effected my
exit unobserved.
In the meanwhile l ran swiftly after
Helena and DIR. 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 l 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. "Oh, the Grand hotel" he an.
swered without hesitation; that is
where all the English lords and Amer
lean m%illionaires stay"
Then let him take me hither; I
tempted HIM with a franc.
Evidently the gentleman is in a
hurry"
| assured him that | was, and prom.
ised him two francs II l could reach
the hotel before a lady whom l was
following.
Then, the gentleman must go by
the short cut"
l sped after the urchin down the vii.
lage 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
oNtl thib SoNNicu IaooubN"db 40 AZ
pavement for the second series of
shops above. l was on the lower pave
ment, and this explains how | was
able to reach a flight of steps, the cut
the youngster had promised, before
Helena or DIR. Starva.
At the foot Of these steps the young
ster bolted. assuring me that ! should
find the hotel when | had reached the
top of the flight.
These steps pierced a wall of one
OF the houses of the village street,
The flight 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 flight,
The first series Of steps, | began to see
dimly, had ended at a sort of porter'a
lodge. / learned afterwards that this
was a private entrance to the hotel
above and that in the g~lasscovered
little a porter was accustomed
to sit.
I was still feeling my way cautious
ly abont (for l had not yet seen that
the flight OF steps was continued al
right angles, and the steps were
broken and ~uneven), when the circle
Of light at the foot of the steps lead
Ing into the street was blotted out.
At first l hoped it might be Helena
But II was q man, and he was leapine
up the steps in desperate haste.
guessed It to be DIR. Starva. But
Ind no intention of letting him know
that ] was following him. | pressed
close against the wall to let him pass
To my establishment he darted into
the empty porter's lodge and crouched