Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-09-21

'Starva has turned traitor Have
rot told you that he trapped Madame
de WARMER with the rest of us?"
was becoming desperate. The min
utes was flying swiftly, and Locke was
even more aggressive than when he
had first surprised me. To reason
with him was impossible unless | told
him all. There was no time for that.
Force alone could rescue me from my
dilemma. If 1t was hopeless to disarm
his suspicious, could l rob him of the
revolver in his hip pocket? / made
no further attempt to resist. l stood
passively, waiting my chance.
80 Starva has turned traitor?"
Locke questioned ironically. "But If
the Countess Sarahoff is so anxious to
outwit her former confederate-if the
life of Prince Ferdinand is actually in
peril and she would save him, why did
she not send a man for that desperate
work? Why did she not let Captain
Forbes escape instead of you? Would
he be so averse to the saving of
kings life? Even if you believe her
silly yarn, she has tricked you. You
are clay in her hands; her kisses have
bewitched you"
/ made no answer to his taunts. I'm
consciously he had loosened his hold.
| stood as one crushed by his vindic-
tive Scorn. My attitude confessed
defeat. Locke believed the acted lie
when he had contemptuously scoffed
at the truth.
"Once more, your errand, and no
more lies. You wish to save Ferdi-
nand; you pretend that is the futile
errand Madame de WARMER sends you
on. You would penetrate the strong
hold of desperate band unarmed-
you who only this morning saw
young girls life threatened and raised
no hand. If it was cowardice that
made you hesitate, why should the
coward play the hero so bravely now?
Or was it that you are the ally of the
very man whom you pretend you are
anxious to confront empty handed?"
II have done my best to move you.
What do you want? / am in your
hands"
81 want the truth"
81 have told you the truth. If l lied
it might avail me more" l said bitter
ly. For the last time l entreat you.
l have been proved a coward-twice.
But this was to be my chance. l hoped
to retrieve myself But fate blocks
the way with a fool who cannot see
when a man is desperately in earnest.
Eardinond'c &c ai ~ W.
lift no hand to save him. Listen: in
my pocket is the key to the little door
just beyond you. Take it; let your
self into the hall; hide there and use
the evidence Of your own eyes"
and let you slip from my hands?
Not much! What is that?"
, He turned abruptly. The accom-
plice of Dr. Starva who had been keep
ing guard before the door was running
toward the passageway leading from
the village street. l could hear dis
tinctly the carriage wheels rumble
over the cobblestones."
For the last time" I besought
There is not an instant to lose"
Still he hesitated, looking cautiously
around the angle of the wall at the ap-
preaching carriage. His curiosity made
him negligent.
This was my chance. One arm
caught him about the neck; the other
reached for his weapon. Then l
pushed him violently backward and
covered him, retreating myself toward
the little door, the key in my hand.
Stand back" l whispered fiercely.
Now take you choice. Go to the VIII
lage; you can't go too quickly, you
stubborn idiot. Come back with gend
armes; batter down the door. Or else
come with me- You have accused me
of cowardice more than once Show
you are a man. Quickly, your choice!"
heard him chuckling softly to HIM
self in the darkness.
well, I'm damned" he muttered,
more than once. Lead on, Macduff"
AS my key slipped into the lock he
was at my side.
| pushed the little door open
The hall was empty, but brilliant
with the light of a hundred candles.
No nook or Granny afforded us a safe
h1ding-place.
leaped up the staircase with Locke
at my heels. We had reached the gal
lery as the great door swung open.
Prince Ferdinand entered, DR.. Starva
and his ally crowding him close on
' i+h Nv .-'ro