The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER xxx.-contlnued.

prisoned In the room yonder II took
me three hours TO loosen the bar OF
the window. / made my way round
the 'sloping roof OF the towers by the
stone gutter TO the window OF that
other room. The window was open.
When I gained 1t. and was about to
enter II, j saw this man. whom / be-
lieved TO be your brother. enter the
room, bolt the door behind him, kneel
at the safe. open IT, and abstract from
II packet OF papers which he now
has in his pocket"
II Forbes had expected Helena to
be dumfounded at this surprising
news, his wish was gratified. But 1t
was wondey tempered with infinite Joy
The papers that convicted her brother
OF guilt had been rescued from the
cruel clutch OF Madame de WARMER
She did not realize at once that | had
steered clear OF Charybdis only to fall
foul to Scylla. The peril of Sir Nor
timers guilt being known was now in
finitely greater than IT had been half
an hour ago. Helena's defense OF my
self. and Madame de WARMERS untime.
ly interruption. had both alienated all
sympathy from Helena and strength
ened his conviction that was one OF
the conspirators.
II | had kept silent so long. IL II
seems unmanly that | should have al
lowed a woman to plead in my behalf
1t is because I was racking my brain
for a means of escape from the awk-
ward predicament that held me cap
tive.
Il have told you. Captain Forbes,
that have ample reason TO believe In
the honesty of Mr. Haddon. II he has
taken any papers from the safe. II is
with my fullest and deepest gratitude
II was the woman there who had
stolen them from my brother They
are personal papers. They concern
only my mother and myself now that
Mortimer is dead Mr.. Haddon will
restore them to me"
Il shall forbid that" protested
FORBES hotly Il tell you Miss Brett,
those are papers of State. They be-
long TO the State. | must see that
they are placed in the hands OF the
ministers of the Foreign Office. For
the last time. give me those papers"
leaped at the loophole Helena had
offered me. If / could not prevent
their falling into the hands OF Forbes.
At least could delay that dire event
Il shall obey you. Miss Brett Into
your hands alone shall place those
papers"
If you please" she said with dig. |
nifty. and held out a hand that did not |
tremble 10 receive them.
And still | hesiiated | saw the |
CLEAN OF resolution In the glitter OF |
Forbes blue eyes. IL I produced the |
paper now II would be only to have |
the kings messenger snatch them
from my grasp. Forbes turned to |
Helena in angry triumph.
You see, Miss Brett, he hesitates |
The woman and himself are as reluct-
ant that the papers fan into your
hands as they are that obtain them.
he has already once tricked me Is
there nothing can say TO shake your
blind confidence In this treacherous
tmpostor?"
Nothing" said Helena. with resolu-
ton but | could see her troubled sur.
prise at my reluctance.
Then I shall be fosced to resort TO
violence. am going to have Those
papers, and at once. II you are so
blind TO the grave danger of letting
this man keep the papers. even for the
moment. | am not. How could he
Il were with the permission and per
hans at the entreaty of this Madame
dc Narnier?"
The inference is clear enough.
should think-she must have left the
door Of the safe open"
Helena spoke confidently. but trust
In me had been put to a sore test
Your credulity is very great II you
think that. Why, madam, | saw him
deliberately work the combination OF
the safe"
Helena uttered a cry Of horror at
my supposed treachcry. Her trust was
shattered.
i could not dream OF viiainy so
lnstinctively she came close TO s
rorbes side as IL for protection. She
lad read in my eyes that Forbes spoke Z
me truth. No words of mine could
her now OF my sincerity.
Madame de WARMER had been quite I
forgotten by us all Until now she {
lad been listening In breathless ST. I
ence. Forbes declaration that | had {
-aKen the papers must have seemed
. her the sheerest absurdity. She q
lad been certain that she had locked 4
ne SAFE she was equally certain that q
10 one but herself knew the word by Il
which II might be opened. She must y
ave thought, too. that my ta..it con b
ession Of taking the papers was !,
use to deceive her, though she could
iot guess its purpose. =
But when Captain Forbes asserted /
'lth evident sincerity that he had seen n
ne working the combination her anx. 4