Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-11-14
He strobe TO nv bedside. cou,


imagine with what GREATNESS anxiet,
the adventures watched him. Wa
he sufficiently intimate with Sir Nor
timer Brett to denouuce me instantly
as an impostor?
"Your Excellency," he said gently.
Your E~xcellencyi"
The immediate danger Of discovery
was past. At least he had not de-
tected the deception so far. He called
inc again; he shook nv shoulder re.
s%pectfully. l opened my eyes.
What is it," / demanded, b~ewildered.
| am Mortified to-day when ] think Of
the facility that was mine Ia playing
this game OF intrigue. | looked Ian.
guidly from Captain Forbes to Madame
de WARMER, who had resumed her seat
at the bedside. The question vas ad.
dressed to her.
She took my hand. This is Captain
Forbes, a kings messenger. He has
brought you dispatches OF impor.
lance"
"Ah. yes" ] said YEARLY, and looked
at him with dull eyes.
III oOlis '" "iohoo yo't ~
| Contempt for the man struggled with
respect for his office. But my orders
at the Foreign Office were to give you
these papers at the earliest possible
moment. The business is urgent. May
| suggest that you read them at once?"
My eyes unconsciously turned to
Madame de WARMER for guidance. She
stroked my hand gently.
DO you not see that he is In no.
condition to be disturbed t%o-night?'
she asked Indignantly.
For the first time Captain Forbes
hesitated. He placed one sunburned
hand on his breast as II to guard jeal'
ously the dispatches he bore. That he
should hesitate at all seemed to me
incredible. But Captain Forbes
seemed a fair example Of that type Of
Englishman who performs his duty
with the stubbornness and ob~stinacy
Of a fool as well as a hero. Chance
often determines which Of the two
characters he shall assume. II Is true
he had not the remotest suspicion that
| was not Sir Mortimer. But surely
he must see that | was in the power Of
these adventurers.
All my fears reached a climax,
wher, looking steadily at me a mo-
ment, he turned to the others:
Il must speak to Sir Mortimer
alone"
l saw Starva grasp the revolver con-
cealed beneath his coat. Madame de
WARMER sllenced the protests on his
lips with a meaning glance. She real
ICED the uselessness of further resist.
ance.
you will not excite him more than
necessary" she entreated a%nXiously.
And you must not be surprised to
find his mind still confused as a result
Of the opiate given him"
81 shall spare him as far as posi-.
ble," Forb'.' replied with some stern.
ness. Drawing himself erect, his arms
closed behind them.
My first impulse was to put an end
to this farce. But again | hesitated.
They were listening outside that door;
every suspicion was alert: the slight
est cause would fan the suspicion to
a fame.
And then. what? ! should have
made myself ridiculous to no purpose.
| had gone far in my reckless venture
too far to risk all by attempting to
warn Captain Forbes at this crucial
moment. His brain worked too slowly
he was too deficient In Imagination
too much lacking in subtlety and
finesse. I refused-recklessly. II you
will, but deliberately-to risk the sue
cess of my scheme by drumming into
the dull brain OF Captain Forbes the
true state of affairs. 1t would have
taken him a good quarter OF an hour
to grasp merely the facts. At that
time he would understand just enough
of them to be stubbornly convinced
that | was equally involved with the
other two, but he would think my
nerve had failed me and that / was
attempting to purchase my own free,
dom from punishment at the expense
of the others. And certainly they
would drag me down with them, II
FOR no other purpose than revenge
No; this was not the hour for conf
dences; Captain Forbes was not the
man to be made a contidant at such
IN hour.
He looked down at me with cold re
spect. Outwardly | met his steady
look with something Of fortitude and
composure, but beneath the clothes
my two hands were clenched rigid.
From a silk bag suspended about
his neck he produced two envelopes
He weighed them in his hand a mo
ment; then he placed the bulkier 'oi
the two in its silk case. The other
he held toward me.
The Foreign Office, sir, has intrust
ed to me two dispatches. My orders
are to place them in your hands at the
earliest opportunity. But one of these
dispatches l know to be Of great i'm
portance. | shall therefore keep 1t fol
the present. unless you demand it,"
No, no." | muttered h%oarsely, 81
cannot receive 1t now"
Then tomorrow, sir, | shall hope tC
find you In better health. Then | shall
give you the second dispatch. This
one | leave with you now and may
suggest that you read 1t at yosl
earliest convenience"
ITO BE CoNTINUED.l
eSAgaA G. AyS &.@;