Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-30
CHAPTER XxNlII.
Prince Ferdinand Comes to the
Nh-4a,ss

Chateau.
| Locke / painted. leaning breath
less against the wall. for Gods sake
let me so. 1t is a matter OF life or
] death"
"Gently-not so loud"
Again his hand was placed at my
mouth. He pulled me back into the
shadow OF an angle OF the wall He
listened intenty.
There was a heavy football on the
terrace. It sounded nearer. A man.
mufned IN cloak. came 10 the edge OF
the band Of moonlight. He also was
listening. Presently he stole softly to
the parapet. and looked down at the
village. Neither OF US spoke until he
had resumed his beat before the great
portal OF the chateau.
Who is he7" I whispered.
Locke led me out of hearing. hug
Eing the wall.
You know as we'll as l. Now, then.
Tor our deferred talk. This morning I
asked you for some explanation Of
your extraordinary conduct. You chose
not TO give II me. Well, I mean to
have Il now. Come. what Is this
errand that sends you flying through
/ tie air for a hundred feet at the risk
OF your neck2 It appears to be press
ing"
was still struggling for my breath
1t was not physical fatigue that made
me tremble SO much as sheer despair
at the hopelessuess OF disarming
| Locke's hostility and suspicious in the
precious minutes that remained. At
any moment now DR.. Starva might be
returning
The death-masl!" 1 began inco-
herenly. Prince Ferdinand"
His grasp frightened. He drew me
roughly toward him In MS surprise.
The death-maskl What OF it2"
"Starva has lured Prince Ferdinand
TO the chateau Already he has gone
to meet him az the station. when
be returns with him here"
Ferdinand comes to meet SIR Nor
timer"
sir Mortimer. man. is dead"
Dead! And you have undertaken
70 nh HIS place, Il is very considerable
OF you"
His voice vibrated with dis,rust
But tried 20 keep my temper.
II Ferdinand enters that door with
Starva he viii never leave Il alive. un-
less help is summoned"
For a moment Locke's suspicions
wavered. I had spoken with a solemn
ity that touched even his skepticism
And who has told you thisq" he
asked slowly
Madame de varnler. the Countess
Sarahon"
"Ah. your friend Of the bursaal
Where Is sho2"
I pointed upward.
I'm the tower there The four OF us
Captain Forbes. MISS Brett that
woman. and myself-were trapped bv
Dr. Starva. Don't YOU see. II was 10
clear the field for action-to leave him
free 10 accomplish his frightfuI work
unmolested2 Locke. this IS no time
for talk one OF us must conceal him
self In the hall there. tho other sum-
mon help. Are you armed?"
Rather he answered grimIy. Tt
Is that fact that should show you the
Iuselessness Of struggling"
J you have called me TOOL moro
than once I cried bitterly. "But you
are hundred times a fool that you
are blind 20 the need OF action"
AN in GOOD time. my friend. have
sim a question or two to ask. II Can
tain Forbes Is imprisoned in the tower
there. Why did he permit you TO plav
the hero alone7 Why Is he not with
you2 Have you pulled the wool over
his eyes as you did over the eyes OF
MISS Brett2 IL seems 10 me a little
remarkable that he should trust n
man who has tricked him more than
once"
Locke's cool question staggered me.
had no Intention Of lying. but my
hesitancy did not lessen his growing
distrust Of my motives.
There vas no more time to explain
things to him than there is 70 you. Be
sides. he would not have believed me. {"
l muttered
AS / do not believe you" he an
swered with some sternness. CAS- I
shall not believe you until you take
pains to make things little more
clear. The Countess Sarahoff II Is
who tells you OF the peril OF Prince
Ferdinand She takes you into her
confidence; that In Itself scarcely
strengthens my trust OF you But this
woman is the accomplice of Dr. Starva.
Why, then. is she suddenly so anx-
ious to disconcert his plans?"
'Starva has turned traitor Have !
not told YOU that he trapped Madame
de Varnier with the rest of us?''
I was becoming desperate. The min
utes was dying swiftly, and Locke wal
even more aggressive than when h'
had first surprised me- To reason
, with him was impossible unless told
I him all. There was no time for that
Force alone could rescue me from M
? dilemma II IL was hopeless to disarn
his suspicious, could rob him of thu
revolver In his hip pocket? made
. no further attempt 20 resist. ] stoo'
passively. waiting my chance.
D $50 Starva has turned traitor ?
. Locke questioned ironically. But 1
! the Countess Sarahof is so anxious t
4 outwit her former confederate-if thu
life OF Prince Ferdinand Is actually ii
peril and She would save him. why die
she not send q man for that desperate
I 4 III Of - al y