The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-11-09
cuApTER xx-continued.


Sabterfuge. Every fact points 70 your
being in league with these aaven
kurers. A coward wouldn't have taken
the risks you have taken. You sa"
The man hiding in the stairway; you
oaw him about to fire on neipiess
girl; and You raised no hand. AN
talking plainly enough?"
! I looked into Locke's eyes, giarlng
with rage and contempt, and 1 iaugneu
aloud. 1t was actually a RELIEF 10 nave
my weakness exalted to the plane OF
deliberate villainy.
Laugh, my friend. but am not 10
be deceived by laugh"
And now that stand abased IN my
naked deviltry?"
81 give you five minutes to make
full and complete confession. II a'
the end of Ave minutes you sun 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, ana TOT
being an accomplice In the murder OF
Miss Brett"
Five minutes! The time was not
hong. / knew Locke would keep ms
word: but more than ever ] was STUD
bornly resolved to refuse taking MIN
into my confidence.
Could tell him my reasons for act
ing as had done? Gould l tell MN
that / had set out on the .romanuc
Nuest of saving q life for the lie that
had been lost? Would he believe that!
At least without appealing to the wom-
m 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 Pm
nacles OF the Castle OF Happiness
What q fool have been!
"Your time is almost up, SAID
Locke grimly, looking at the watch ne
had placed on his knee. And MISS
Brett is walking In the garden over
there. Do you wish her to see you
marched OF to prison.?
On the contrary. 1t ~.s sne VINO
must set me free! I would put her tt
the supreme test. How If she trusted
me as she had promised, might ye
escape from the awkward dilemma.
rose to my feet. L called to her
Miss Brett!"
She came to us. My maneuver s.
completely astonished Locke tnat ID
stared at me speechless-
miss Brett" / said quietly, MI
Locke has taken upon himself the tas
Of bringing me to Justice. He mo
me guilty of completely IN the II
trigues of Madame de WARMER. He r
fuses to believe that ! am acting ]
your behalf. l cannot blame him IL
his suspicious. The facts are aimo
wholly against me-the surface fact
do not even deny most OF them. 81
he has woefully misconstrued my m
tives IN every case. refuse absolut
ly to tell him what those motives al
He has threatened me with arrest U
less l make to him full and compile
confession without delay. Mr.. LOCI
"A have said, is acting on the behs
of -FOUR mother and yourself. Perso
ally he has no right whatever to ma
any complaint against me"
miss Brett will be the last pers
"a shield you from punishment VIII
abe knows the TRUTH" interrupt
locke. bewildered at my audacity
appealing to her.
among other things, Miss Bret
continued eagerly, he accuses me
being an accomplice in your attempt
murder In the stairway.
There are facts more tangible tn
that" said Locke significantly.
"But / refuse to listen to ther
said Helena. reassuring me with
quiet glance. Il am not 30 ignor'
of these facts, perhaps. az you i'm
ane. Mr.. Locke. have every CO
dence in you, Mr.. Haddon. AS to ca
eng your arrest, that is absurd"
"Thank you," returned. with
slon of gratitude In my heart. :,
viii hear from me before midnight.
at the end of that time you DO no
think it would be well for you to
sult Mr.. Locke. He knows a g
deal of which you are ignorant.
"Be sure of this, sir. shall not
until midnight to enhgnten
Brett" cried Locke. his face pul
with anger and chagrin-
"Mr. Locke, let US understand e
other" said Helena. and even Le
felt that her decision was irrevoca
.Mr. Haddon is my friend. refus
believe him guilty of dishonor, m
less of deliberate crime. l refuse.
NV mother will refuse. to press
charge against him. More than
we trust him to help us In our
ficulties."
Locke closed the face OF his "
with q snap.