Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-12-12

suVo = nro fof tno HE tnat Wus ios'
through me"
You have already made that repa
ration. Mr.. Haddon." che said almost
humbly. Fate has punished me that
I should have Judged you 30 hastily
and so wrongly"
mo, moi" I spoke In fierce rsinon-
STRANGE. viii you never be Just to
me-? That was an accident, ! tell
you"
Il do not like you less that yoa say
So"
It was hopeless to make her under
stand now. | should have confessed
my cowardice sooner II I wished to b
believed. She had judged as at Luz
cerne.
Listen" ] drew her to a gardLn
seat, "A life for a life-that Is what
you said. But II, instead OF a life, Il
were a mans honor that I could save
If It were the honor Of your
brother?"
Her lips trembled. She leaned to-
ward me In her appeal.
"0h. you would crush me with the
weight OF my gratitude. Save my
brothers honor. and, and"
81 should then stand equal with
other men in your respect?"
Yes" she said family, her eyes
bright with unshed tears. 1--WE need
friend so much now. We are in
such deep distress because Of my poor
brother. Evidently you know OF his
disgrace" Shame blanched her cheek.
Il know something Of It," | said
with sympathy. Tell me, Miss Brett,
do ] not bear a marked resemblance
to your brother"
AT first sight 1t is startling" she
cried eagerly. When my mother and
| saw you at Lucerne we thought you
were he. When we learned that you
were with Mr.. Willoughby at the time
of his death, you can understand how
bitterly we resented our ~disappoint.
ment. Forgive me II | am again sus.
p%icious, but that | should find you
the guest Of Madame de WARMER now,
at this time
"If am to help you, you must trust
me-"
81 will. do"
Implicitly"
Yes"
Even though circumstances seem
Utterly against me? Even though I
may seem a friend Of Madame de Var.
nier-to be in league with her against
your"
She hesitated. "She is a dangerous
woman. II my poor brother has fallen
a victim to her horrible beauty"
Il shall be on my guard" I replied
lightly, smiling at her fierce resent.
ment.
But you will continue to be her
guest. 10 that wise? How can you ef.
feet the release Of Captain Forbes IL
you remain at the c~hateau?"
How car l learn the truth concern.
Ing your brother, how can I do my ut.
most to save his honor III 1t be not yet
too late). unless | remain at the cha.
teau--yes, unless I am on apparent
good terms with Madame de Varnler?"
you are testing my belief in you to
the utmost, Mr.. Haddon. | suppose
you smooth the suspicious Of your
hostess as readily as you do mine"
She spoke bitterly. And II she found
It difficult to trust me now, how much
more difficult when she learned, not
the whole truth, but a damning half.
truth.
"Ah, you are wavering already In
the trust you have promised to give
me. Great God, you think that It is a
pleasant task I have set myself? To
smile on this woman, to play the hypo'
critic. to spy on her when | am her
guest, that I may dog her, coax her
into telling the truth, that l may en-.
trap her accomplish and herself at the
right moment? Miss Brett, I would
wash my hands of this ugly business
II | had not sworn to endure every
ignominy and risk of being misunder.
stood not only by a man like Captain
Forbes by by yourself. | tell you that
I have not a clear field to carry out
my plans-if ! fail. or am bafled by
some ~well-meaning intruder, | am a
disgraced man. No one will believe
my d~efence-not even you. l may
eve be dragged to prison as a com
mon felon."
She placed both her hands In mine
Forgive me. My anxiety Is sc
great. | do trust you. Return to
Madame de WARMER, Mr.. Haddon.
shall try to be patient. But Captain
Forbes. am | to do nothing 10 helI
him?"
Until this evening, no. You see.
am testing your faith"
/ looked at her keenly. She re
turned my glance with brave assur
ance.
IF you receive no word. either from
Captain Forbes or myself, by midnight
tonight, If you are n o summoned tc
the chateau by your brother land tina
| warn you Ii only too unlikely, in
quire at the Grand hotel for MIR. Rob
inson Locke. He is an American con
sui at Lucerne; he will help you"
He has already helped US. 1t was
Mr.. Locke who directed Captain
Forbes and myself here to Alterhof
fen"
And will you not include among my
services" drawled a voice behind us
the fact that | was so fortunate as tc
save your life Just now, Miss Brett?'
! ITO BE coNTINUED.)
~ III