The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-11-14

loted TO us the concierge vas sum
marily dismissed. But before he left
us the servant insisted ON whispering
to DIR. Starva these words. which no
doubted startled him as much as they
did me;
THE sister OF his Excellency Is In
the hotel. Shall tell her that"
DIR. Starva clutched the shoulder Of
his informant. and held him in fierce
vIse-like grip.
Thrice times stubborn fool" he
growled. what concern is IL to Mr..
Haddon that the sister OF Sir Morti
ner Brett is at this hotel7 Certainly
you will not tell her"
He thrust his specialized. pallid face
close cc TIA. of the trembling servant.
Then releasing him suddenly he
pushed him without. the little con.
cierge rubbing his shoulder ruefully.
Immediately he regretted this IN.
necessary violence. He stepped out
into the corridor. and | guessed sat
he had smcothed the injured vanity Of
the gold-laced official with moro Of the
crisp notes.
He had scarcely entered the room
again before he admitted Madame de
WARMER and again the key was turned.
They lost no time In vain talk OF
congratulations on the success OF their
trick. whatever it's meaning might be.
Dr. Starva half led. half carried me
into a bedroom adjoining There
was put TO bed with as little cep..
mony as a helpless infant is disposed
Of for the night. For a moment Starys
looked down on me grimly. Then he
disappeared. closing the door care
fully behind HIM.
Now. indeed, understood why
Helena Brett and her mother had been
so startled when first the. had seen
newly Madame de WARMER had
shown herself no less concerned--why
| had caught DIR. Starva spying on me
why Il was plotted that should be
drugged and brought hither in this
melodramatic fashion.
In the worlds history there have
been many instances OF men play'vs
the pretender. but certainly none
more innocent than myself. ] should
be dense indeed now did fail TO com
prehend everything-from Madame de
WARMERS first greeting. to the episode
OF the cloak and hat.
l recalled the woman's CHASTITY de
spair when she had read the telegram
In the kursaal. He is dead" she had
repeated over and over.
Sir Mortimer Brett. minister plcni.
potentiary at the court OF Sofa, wsa
dead. The Adventures for some pur.
pose OF their own, not yet 10 be
guessed. had deliberately planned that
l be mistaken for him at this hotel.
That the ambassador was dead was
a bitter disappointment TO my hopes.
The opportunity to fuifIi the task that
Helena had given me was not 10 be
mine after all. And now that I knew
that, what further excuse had ! to b
as clay In the hands OF these peoplef
/ was tempted 10 burst into the room.
there. TO prick the bubble OF their In
trlgue.
But II did that. though I might baf
1e the execution OF their plans.
should be utterly ignorant as 70 the
nature OF those plans. The danger te
myself in continuing to play the role
OF accomplice was very great The Of
ficers of the law would not be so touch.
ingly simple as to believe that | was
abetting the plans OF this precious
couple only with a view Of bringing
them TO final Justice.
But much more alarming than posot'
BILE danger 10 myself was TIE fact thu,
Helena Brett was In this hotel
Before morning a cruel but iusf
chance might bring us face 10 face
and in her eyes should stand cor
victed Of the grossest villainy with
diabollcal cunning Dr. Starva had In
sisted that was Mr.. Haddon, and yeA
he had deliberately planned that ! Be
mistaken for Sir Mortimer Brett. This
intent TO deceive was obvious,
When that we're proved. on nay head
would fall the greatest censure. For
who would believe that was an limo
cent victim? But | had gone too far
to retreat now Or rather. had not
gone far enough Granted that Sir
Mortimer Brett were dead. and tina,
my elaborate plans to rescue him from
the hands OF these adventurers were q
failure. the fact remained that for
some dark purpose Of their own the
conspjrators were either concealinx
the knowledge OF his death, or we-o
using that knowledge for some base
purpose. They must be brought TO
justice. That justice could be obtained
surely and swiftly only at risk to my
How many minutes had passed nowf
IlDared Iamove. dared i even open IN,
i eyes?, For, aught knew they were
watching me. were even in the room
at this instant. Ilay quite stu. breath
ing .stertorously., ~ ..t..A ga
1 The handle OF the door was turned
i sharply. + heard the weight OF III
4 stafva thrown against 1t as II jammed
! Ind for Some fnoriients resisted his
| aeoya.y 10 t-v'tte.''s p, % 7tts't
4 II ~ a w. .tA.t -.