The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-09-13

II shall make no explanation to Cap
tain Forbes until he sees fit to ask me
for one"
and l should refuse to believe any,"
said Forbes with contempt You say
your brother is in that room. May ]
see him."
She led the way to the oratory In
silence. The door closed gently be-
hind them. Madame de WARMER and ]
were alone.
II hope you are satisfied, monsieur,
with your adventure in this Castle OF
Happiness" she said with a historical
sob.
II am waiting for the climax" | an
swered significantly. us it to be
comedy or tragedy"
"Oh, God!" she raised her clenched
is | who am asking that"
why did you look at me in that
manner You wish to. tell me some
thlng-to warn me"
THE death-mask-" she whispered.
Her emotion suffocated her. why
should DR.. Starva have imprisoned us
here, unless"
looked at her stupefied.
But Prince Ferdinand is not here
at the chateau"
Her self-control vanished utterly.
She chung to me in her despair.
Save him! Save hlm!"
But Ferdinand is not at the cha.
teau!" l repeated.
Last night-in the music room
that death.mask!" 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. wher I saw the rage of DR..
Starva-I realized his danger Yes,
he was coming here-to-night. But
telegraphed him that at all costs he
must not come. But If DR.. Starva by
some means intercepted that tele.
gram"
Who sent it?" / questioned anx.
iously.
Jacques"
Then your prince IS doomed II
was Jacques who betrayed to me your
presence here. | thought it was be-
cause | bribed him sufficiently we'll
Be sure of this, he is Starvas crea.
ture."
Heavens, how you torture me, But
il this is true. why did he allow Sir
Mortimers sister to come to me? He
must have known that you sent for
her"
with ourselves she would be safe.
ly out of the way. DR.. Starva is more
ingenious than | have given him the
credit of being. We are caught like
rats in trap"
But you must save mimi"
''Impossible!"
Listen; it is not impossible. There
is a ladder-not on this side, but be-
meath the window of the oratoTy."
Her eyes glittered in the semi-dark-
ness. She placed a finger on my lips.
| had cried out in my surprise.
"A ladder of hundred feet or more.
And it stands against the wall of the
tower!" | exclaimed incredulously.
Besides, if it were there, Captain
Forbes must have seen it,
This ladder, ! call it so for want of
better name, is made of great stones
half as long as ones forearm that
project from the smooth masonry at
intervals of a foot. The chateau is
old, very old. In feudal times, with
stout rope, one might escape from
the tower. But 1t is impossible! We
have no rope" She wrung her hands.
But if this ladder of stones reaches
from roof to terrace, it would be SIM
pie enough without a rope. The
stones are built out at regular inter-
walls? How far are they apart?
AT intervals of foot, they reach in
straight line for 100 feet. But the
chateau is $50 feet high. These stones
begin at the roof. No one could drop
that so feet to the marble terrace be-
low and live. Yes; we are caught like
rats in a trap"
Fifty feet! It would mean a broken
limb, if not certain death. But If a
rope could be knotted of our clothing
for half that distance!"
went llllO the IOOul luIOuSu NHOSt
window the kings messenger had
made his untimely entrance. l leaned
far out of the window, shuddering.
was resolved to make the descent my.
self. Twice had proved myself a
coward. This was to be my chance.
unless Forbes should stubbornly re.
fuse to believe in the existence OF
Ferdinands danger.
The moon was rising; 1t shed an un.
earthly light On the pale face of Ma
dame de WARMER as she looked up at
me anxiously. The wind came in At.
full gusts.
Suddenly there sounded mufiled re-
port. At first l thought IL thunder in
the PARKWAY mountains. But as lis.
tened Intently the mysterious sound
was repeated again aud again, though
more and more feebly. And It came
from above.
"Do you hear it. that strange, muf-
/ aad alan 80 aalrad nf Madame do Var.