Charlevoix county herald., 1907-08-03
CHAPTER xxI.-continued.

being in league with these auVen-
turers. A coward wouldn't have taken
the risks you have taken. You saw
the man hiding in the stairway; you
saw him about to fire on helpless
girl; and you raised no hand. Am
talking plainly enough"
| looked into Locke's eyes, glaring
with rage and contempt, and ! laughed
aloud. 1t was actually relief to have
my weakness exalted to the plane of
deliberate villainy.
Laugh, my friend, but | am not TO
be deceived by laugh"
And now that | stand abased in my
naked deviltry?"
Il give you five minutes to make
full and complete confession. If at
the end OF five minutes you still re-
fuse, | shall have you promptly arrest
ed for being a partner in the intrigues
of the Countess Sarahoff, for masquer-
aiding as Sir Mortimer Brett, and for
being an accomplice in the murder OF
Miss Brett"
Five minutes. The time was not
long. | knew Locke would keep his
word; but more than ever | was stub
bornly resolved to refuse taking him
into my confidence.
Could | tell him my reasons for act
ing as | had done? Could | tell him
that | had set out on the romantic
quest of saving life for the life that
had been lost? Would he believe that?
At least without appealing to the wom-
an who had set me that task? To
drag in her name was impossible.
The minutes passed swiftly. So
this was the end of my task. Disgrace
and Imprisonment! | had warned
Helena that might be the case.
looked across the valley at the pin
nacles of the Castle of Happiness.
What a fool have been!
Your time is almost up" said
Locke grimly, looking at the watch he
had placed on his knee. And Miss
Brett is walking in the garden over
there. Do you wish her to see you
marched off to prison."
On the contrary, it was she who
must set me free! | would put her to
the supreme Test. Now if she trusted
me as she had promised, | might yet
escape from the awkward dilemma.
rose to my feet 1 called to her,
Miss Brett"
SIZE came to US. Ny maneuver so
completely astonished Locke that he
stared at me speeches..
Miss Brett" | said quietly, "Mr.
I h,. al ~ TO- 81,
of bringing nc to justice. He finds
me guilty Of completely in the in
trigues of Madame de WARMER. He re-
fuses TO believe that | am acting in
your behalf | cannot blame him for
his suspicious. The facts are almost
wholly against me-the surface facts.
j do not even deny most of them. But
he has wOefully miscOnstrued my mo-
tives in every case. | refuse absolute
~ to tell him what those motives are.
He has threatened me with arrest I'M
less | make to him full and complete
confession without delay. Mr. Locke
as | have said. is acting on the behalf
OF your mother and yourself. Person
ally he has no right whatever to make
any complaint against me-
Miss Brett Will be the last person
to shield you from punishment when
she knows the truth" interrupted
Locke, bewildered at my audacity in
appealing to her.
Among other things, Miss Brett" "
| continued eagerly, "he accuses me of
being an accomplice in your attempted
murder in the stairway"
There are facts more tangible than
that" said Locke significantly.
but | refuse to listen to them,
said Helena, reassuring me with a
quiet glance. II am not so ignorant
of these facts perhaps, as you mag
inc. Mr.. Locke. l have every conf
dence in you, Mr.. Haddon. AS to caus-
ing your arrest, that is absurd"
Thank you" | returned, with pas
sion of gratitude in my heart. You
will hear from me before midnight. If
at the end of that time you do not,
think II would be well fcr you to con-
suit Mr.. Locke. He knows a great
deal of which you are ignorant"
BE sure CT this, sir, | shall not wait
until mldnlght 10 cnllShten Miss
Brett" cneI Locke, his face purple
with anger and chagrin.
MY. Locke let It's understand each
other" said Helena, and even Locke
felt that he decision was irrevocable
Mr. Eaddcn is my friead. refuse to
believe him guilty Ct dishonor. much
less Of deliberate crime. | refuse, and
my mother VIII refuse, TO press any
charge against him. More than that
we trust him to help us in our dit
flculties.
locke closed the face of his watch
with a snap.
IF you have como to that decision,
he said with assumed carelessness
there Is nothing more to be said II
can be Of service to you. you will