The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-08-30

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hint OF making herself heard th-ougt
me closed door. II was a short mes
sage. had not understood one word
q Il. Though she had raised her voice
almost 20 shout. she had doubtless
spoken In her native tongue. She re
seated herself oomplaisantly. offerina
me her cigarette case.
Now ! am ready. monsieur. for on,
little AFFAIR"
The sooner II IS over the better .
said. irritated that she had stolen a
march on me.
Are you familiar with the hand
writing OF Sir Mortimer Brett?"
She had opene1 a drawer OF the Ia.
Bile at which we sat I caught the
sheen OF a iapanned box.
No" | said. pretending that 7 had
not seen the box. II the proofs OF
Sir Mortimer's dishonor were in thar
dispatch box II would not be many
minutes before | had destroyed them.
If that is the case a copy is as
useful as an original she said coollv.
and. placing the box on the table. she
unlocked II with a little key that hung
az her chatelaine. She took out of the
dispatch box two envelopes. Their
shape and bulk suggested wildly the
packets that she and Dr. Starva had
been examining in the hotel at vitznau.
Evidently you think me a very
trusting person." sneered. "No.
madame. | am not quite so calIow as
that. copy may be forged. Per-
haps you are as clever with the pen
a. Or. Starva. Show re the originals
or nothing"
You wrong lie" she protested
mockingly. And you wrong yourself.
! am not so stupid as to expect YOU to
take these typewriter copies for
granted Nor am | so stupid as to
trust the originals in your hands. You
might destroy them. for instance
Again it looks like a deadlock. The
Surden of proof lies with yourself. AS
you say. | am not familiar with the
handwriting Of Sir Mortimer. Who ia
to vouch for its genuineness?"
One whose word you will scarcely
doubt-the sister OF Sir Mortimer"
raised my clenched hand Her
cruel smile made me for the moment
forget her sex. If she had been a man
l think I could have killed her then.
Then. that was your message. You
have sent for herr"
She will be waiting in the music
room below 1t is for you to say IL
she is to be spared the ordeal. You
will cause her the suffering. not l."
| lowered my hands slowly. Il have
laughed at the old doctrine OF the per-
sonality of the devil believe it now.
Show me the papers"
Let US understand each other first.
In this envelope are copies of certain
and notes made by Sir Nor
timer. The originals are in a safe
that Is in the third room yonder You
will examine these copies. II will be
Tor you TO determine whether Miss
Brett is to be the final arblter OF Sir
Mortimer's guilt or innocence"
And II refuse TO call on Miss
Brett?"
Sooner or later she shall see these
papers"
What advantage will that be 10 -ou
when have failed to be a partner to
rour nefarious intrigues.
i shall be revenged on you. mon
'ieur." Her eyes glittered. And my
evenge Will be profitable. The Rus.
ian or Austrian governments would
Jay long price for the papers in the
afe. NJ. Coward"
Il will give you your own price for
hem" ! said hoarsely
And be robbed OF my revenge? |
hey are beyond price Come. you
weary me with questions. Are you
eady for the proofs?"
One moment These dispatches /
Fere stolen from Sir Mortimer's apart
lents that night at vitznau. You
aimed access TO that apartment BY
assing me OF as Sir Mortimer Where
i'd you find them? How did you know
hey were there?"
Sir Mortimer had hidden them be-
xeen the folds Of a Venetian blind
hat they were concealed in his rooms
{ Vitznau was told Dr. Starva by Sir
Iortimer himself When he had left
Ola for Lucerne he was very IN. He
as accompanied only by his physic-
IN, his nurse. and his valet | need
ardly say that DR.. Starva was the
hysician; myself. the nurse; and Al
lOnse. the valet But Lucerne SAVIOR.
! too much Of publicity for our plans
ven Vitznau was not desirable, espe-
ally in view OF the alarming state
Sir Mortimer's health. This cha
au was our rendezvous But on the
ay here Sir Mortimer suffered a col
pse
DR. Starva remained with his pa
mt: returned to Lucerne TO throw
suspicion as 10 cur movements. In
obscure village in the mountains
r Mortimer died. Or. rather. II was
4 Sir Mortimer Brett. Minister OF
Is Britannia Majesty at Sofia, but a
r. Stanley Walters, an obscure Eng
h tourist
Il regret to say that before he died
r Mortimer felt some misgivings for 7
) conduct. lie realized that the end {