The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-10-26
CHAPTER xIx.-consInued.

u "Hcu SnS nAQ summoned ASSIST
snce! When the castle was stormed
as u were, By gendarmes? My owl
peril would be extreme.
1t was hopeless to prevent the in
evftable. The rescue of Captain
Forbes would be accomplished; m,
completely In the intrigues of Dr.
Starva and Madame de WARMER woult
De taken for granted. Expostulatfoni
would be useless. My very presence
In the chateau would be face evidence
If my guilt.
And 20 had played my desperate
game to no purpose.
To save myself-that was my one
thought Two courses lay before me
Could / make my way to Captain
Forbes? Could effect his release be
fore Helena returned with help? II
that were possible, and II i could
hastily make my position clear to the
kings messenger all might yet be
well. At least so far as the establish
ment of my innocence was concerned.
Or l might overtake Helena Brett.
To her might make my confession.
And II she were persuaded, not only
that ] was acting in her interests, but
that my plan to clear up Sir Morti-
mer's disappearance promised success,
/ might even now be successful.
1t was my fear that she would scorn-
fully refuse both to believe my story
and to accept my aid that made me
hesitate as to this course
1t was DR.. Starva who decided for
me-
He had appeared on the terrace be-
low, and he was following Helena
Brett.
had read Captain Forbes's message
as well as Helena. Why, then, could
there not have been a third person
interested in the strange antics of the
mirror? And IL this surmise were
true? II DR.. Starva or Madame de
WARMER had read the message? They
had not hesitated to use desperate ex-
pedients to gain their purpose. Would
On Starva hesitate to use means as
desperate to prevent Helena from
summoning help?
l asked myself this startling uues-
ton as took the stairs two at time
to the great hail. The main entrance
was locked. For moment 1 thought |
that was prisoner in the chateau as |
well as Captain Forbes. Even now |
am not certain that such was not the |
intention of Madame de Varnier But |
DR.. Starva had gained the terrace by |
small door close by the spiral stair !
case. In his haste he had forgotten to |
lock this door.
Desperate as was my own haste |
took the precaution of locking the side |
door after me and placing the key in |
my pocket. My reasons for this were |
vague enough. 1t was an instinct that |
prompted me to take the precaution
rather than deliberate reflection. But
perhaps might be able to regain the
chateau In due time by this side en-
trance, and none be the wiser. For
~ far as ! knew i had effected my
exit unobserved.
In the meanwhile I ran swiftly after
Helena and DR.. Starva. I had lost
sight Of both. / soon came to an end
OF the promenade. 1t led directly into
the main street of the village. Now
that had gained the village street
looked eagerly about for them. Neither
was in sight. l guessed that Helena
Brett would make her way as soon as
possible to the hotel where she was
known. What hotel? That was the
question.
I halted an urchin and asked him :
the name OF the best hotel In Alter ,
hoffen. s'Oh. the Grand hotel" he an
swered without hesitation; that is
where all the English lords and Amer {
can millionaires stay" |,
Then let him take me hitler; II
empted HIM with a franc. II
Evidently the gentleman Is in a II
lurry."
assured him that was. and prom !
sed him two francs IL could reach 7
he hotel before lady whom l was
ollowing.
Then. the gentleman must go by
he short cut"
II sped after the urchin down the vii
age street. !.
This street is one of the most quaint Z
q the whole world There are two J
torres of shops on either side. The Z
avement of the shops below is rooted I
yer: this covered passageway is the
ayement for the second series Of Il
hops above. was on the lower pave v
lent and this eynlains how I was q
Bile to reach flight of steps. the cut
ne youngster had promised, before I
[elena or DR.. Starva. Il
AT the foot of these steps the young
ter bolter. assuring me that should h
nd the hotel when had reached the c.
,p of the flight. ft
These sfers pierced a wall Of one