Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1907-09-07


that your Excellency has received it?"
mo" 1 said calmly. 1t was time to
put an end to this game of cross-pur-
poses.
Then possibly madam can enlighten
you as to its whereabouts"
Il, your Excellency? Oh, mol" She
swept me a hooking courtesy. 81 am
not so deeply in your Excellency's
counsel"
MY patience, Sir Mortimer" cried
Forbes, breaking into direct speech,
has its limits. l see you at Lucerne
only with the greatest difficulty.
warn you of the grave purport of a
dispatch which l am unable to deliver
to you because of your condition. The
next morning, when l would see YOU
you have disappeared again. l trace
you here with difficulty. When for the
third time l attempt to deliver this
dispatch, l am held captive; the dis
patch is forcibly taken from me. When
| ask you if you have received it, you
give me an Indifferent answer. / dare
not believe that you are so far lost to
your sense of duty that you counte-
nance these violent acts of bandit
But | must insist"
He paused abruptly. / thought it
because he realized that his anger had
carried him too far. But when
looked where he looked, saw Helena
Brett.
Miss BRETT" he exclaimed in
panied surprise, Il am sorry to see
you here"
"And | am infinitely relieved, though
bewildered, to find you, Captain
Forbes" She extended him her hand,
smiling wanly.
but you will help me to make your
brother realize the danger of further
Misunderstanding" he said gently, his
anger at my indifference vanishing at
sight of her pale and haggard counte-
nance.
MY brother, Captain Forbes, is
dead. He lies in that room," she an
swered firmly, though her lips trem-
bled.
She had made her decision. She,
too, was determined at all hazards not
to act lie.
AS for Captain Forbes, he was dumb
with establishment His eyes widened
with dismay and concern. But though
he did not speak his startled glance
dwelt on me.
Mr. Haddon is my loyal friend"
said Helena, interpreting his look. At
the same time she treasured me with
a quiet smile that more than her words
expressed her trust.
A slow flush of anger mounted to
the temples Of the kings messenger.
He lowered over me menaclngly.
you have dared tamper with his
Majesty's business; you have tricked
one of his servants. BY Heaven, you
will rue it dearly!"
Captain Forbes!" Helena laid her
hand on his sleeve in her distress.
Madam" He turned on her in
dignantly. "This man has deliberate
ly passed himself off as your brother.
He tricked me into giving him impor
tant papers of state. You know that,
and you defend him? You dare call
him friend?"
81 did not know that" she replied
firmly. "But l dare call him friend,
Captain Forbes. You do not under
stand"
Understand" he stormed, before l
could make any reply myself. Il I'M
derstand this only too well: he is in
league with a notorious woman, and
the still more infamous DR.. Starva,
two Bulgarian Adventures Of the most
dangerous type. l think that is
enough. That he has obtained under
false pretenses my dispatches convicts
him of high treason. He will not leave
my sight until he Is placed under
arrest"
II am an American" l said quietly.
you may find it more difficult to do
that than you imagine"
My mild expostulation mad6ened
him only the more.
can American" He advanced. to
me as If to lay hands on me. do you
flatter yourself that your nationality
leaves you free to play the spy and
traitor with impunity? Give me those
papers,"
He came a step nearer. Instructive
ly l placed my hands at my breast
pocket as If to protect the precious pa
pers But again Helena, distressed at
his violence, restrained him.
Captain Forbes" she pleaded, pray
restrain your anger. 1t is natural that
you should feel the deepest suspicion
against Mr.. Haddon. But If you will
be patient, am sure he will make all
clear to YOU"
Miss Brett he said sternly, this