Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-30
CHAPTER XXX.
The Ladder Of Stones.

IN sullen apathy At my words she
looked up az me for a moment in dull
surprise. Then slowly. as ~ a mask
had fallen over her face. an expression
OF horror and inseBsate fury disfgured
her beauty. She rushed TO the door:
she shook IL frantically; she beat on
II futile blows.
What does Il mean. this locked
door," demanded Forbes OF me once
more.
1T means that DR.. Starva. the ally
OF this woman, for some purpose OF
his own. has imprisoned us here" I
answered calmly Even you. Captain
Forbes. will not accuse me Of fasten-
ing the bolt"
lie turned from me in contemutuous
silence. 1T is only a question or a few
hours at the most" he said reassuring-
y 70 Helena. at dawn we can at
tract the attention OF some one from
the street In the meanwhile we must
be patient"
Il am thankful that you were able
20 make your way 90 me-" said Helena
brokenly. 1T would be dreadful 20 be
here alone with my brother lying dead
IN that room"
Are we 70 make no eGorti" I de-
manded Surely I'm some way"
Ny words were arrested or my lips
Madame de WARMER had abandoned
herself 20 her despair. AS spoke she
looked up turuvely and then trans
fixed me with glance OF warning.
III you can suggest a means. I am
ready 20 listen" said Forbes. "But
that door OF oak with its bands OF steel
Is beyond my strength. AS 90 thfDos-
sibility OF a descent from the outside.
Il is hopeless 90 thinl, OF &c. Even n
one existed. 7 should scarcely avail
myself OF IT, leaving you with these
people. Miss Brett"
"But Mr. Haddon-"
els not 20 be trusted. am afraid. q"
said he. with a sneer
'Air. Haddon. 20 is hard 20 believe
you guilty OF treachery. In spite OF
everything. ! wish 90 keep faith with
you. But win you not explain 20 Cap.
tam Forbes"
mo, Miss Brett" 7 returned bluntly.
q shall make no explanation % Can
tain Forbes until he sees Ut to ask me
for one"
And 7 should refuse 20 believe any"
said Forbes with contempt You say
your brother Is IN that room. May J
see hime"
She led the way 20 the oratory In
silence. The door closed gently be-
hind them. Madame de WARMER and I
were alone.
Il hope YOU are satisfied. monsieur.
with your adventure in tins Castle OF
Happiness" she said with q hysterical
sob.
II am waiting for the climax" 7 an
swered significantly. "Is 4 10 be n
comedy or q traCedy2"
"Oh, Cod" she raised her clenched
hands In a gesture fun OF anguish. cit
is who am asking that"
Why did you look at me in that
manner You wish 20 tell me some
thing-to warn me-"
''The deathmask-" she whispered
Her emotion suGocated her. "Whv
should Or. Starva have imprisoned us
here. unless"
looked at her stupefed.
But Prince Ferdinand is not here
at the chateau"
Her self-control vanished utterly.
She clung 10 me in her despair.
Save himl Save hIm,"
But Ferdinand is not at the cha
teaul" ] repeated.
last night-in the music room
that death-maski" She spoke incoher-
emily. but her meaning was too clear.
You knew that he was coming
here?"
When you told me OF the death
mask. when I saw the rage OF DR..
Starva-I realized his danger. Yes,
he was coming here-to-night But I
telegraphed him that at all costs he
must not come. But If DR.. starva by
some means intercepted that tele-
gram"
Who sent IT." 1 questioned anx-
Iously,
Jacques"
Then your prince is doomed. II
was Jacques who betrayed 10 me your
presence here. l thought IL was be-
BE sure OF this. he is Starva's crea-
ture."
Heavens. how you torture met But
II this Is true, why did be allow Sir
Mortimer's sister to come to me? He
must have known that you sent for
her"
with ourselves she would be safe
iy out Of the way. DR.. Starva is more
ingenious than have given him the
credit OF being. We are caught like
rats in a trap"
ssnus xyo,, r,,roR cava hsrnVw
'Impossiblei"
Listen; Il is not impossible. There
Is ladder-nct on this side, but be
meath the window of the oratory."
Her eyes glittered In the semi-darl<
ness She placed a finger on my lips
had cried out In my surprise.
"a ladder OF hundred feet or morel
And Il stands against the wall of the
towerl" 1 exclaimed incredulously
Besides. II 1t wereN there. Captain
Forbes must have seen it"
This ladder, call It so for want OF
a better name. is made OF great stones
half as long as ones forearm that
project from the smooth masonry al
intervals OF q foot. The chateau IL
old very old. In feudai times with