The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1907-06-28
CHAPTER xlIl.-contlnued.

To all purposes. ! was "A Gagged pris
Oner The risk | had run to spy on
them would be 10 no purpose unless
could surprise them at their nights
work
ragged at my impotence. Then
thought of the window. Perhaps there
was a balcony
There was no blind at the window.
but wooden shutters that fastened
with a catch. | pushed open the
French windows. Yes, there was the
balcony, and to my JOY | saw that it
extended the length OF the suite
And now a new difficulty stared me
In the face AT any moment they
might enter the bedroom, and when |
had gained the balcony, outside the
salon, would shutters prevent my see
INK within?
AS TO the first risk | must take IT,
The door had jammed before; It
would jam again. The noise made in
opening il would give me some warn
ing
gained the balcony there were
shutters, but could see readily
through the interstices.
II was the apartment we had first
entered; 'and it bore unmistakable
signs Of having been infinitely ran
sacked. A large empire desk had been
pred open. Papers had been abstract
cd from The drawers and pigeonho.es:
they lay about in confusion. In more
than one place the carpet had been
torn up at the edges.
AS peered cautiously within. DR..
Starya was lowering the Venetian
blind OF another window. Evidently
they were searching the room with
the knowledge that an article Of value
was hidden there
heard Madame de Varnier cry out
excitedly 4 packet. concealed be-
tween the Stats of Venetian blind.
had fallen TO the floor
Without a doubt 1t was for this
packet Of papers that they had been
searching. Madame de WARMER tore
the envelope in feverish haste. She
scanned the contents of the papers
with intense eagerness. DR.. Starya
Hooking over her shoulder. AS they
read. their faces expressed disap-
pointment and chagr:n. DR.. Starva
questioned Madame de WARMER repeat
edly She put aside his fierce inquiries
with impatience
Ana now ! made second discovery |
thought ! understood the meaning |
OF this extraordinary plot in coming |
to the hotel at Vitznau. | had guessed !
long since that | bore a sufficiently |
striking resemblance to Sir Mortimer |
Brett to deceive at least the first cas-.
ual glance. Otherwise. why the amaze.
ment OF the Bretts ana Madame de |
Narnier in first seeing me? How else
could | explain the events of the
night? They had drugged me- or at.
tempted TO do so. that | might be
oDlivicus TO inconvenient injuries or
greetings. The hat and cloak OF Sir
Mortimer which DR. Starva had pro
cured in some manner. were unusual
enough in character to be readily rec.
osnized by the servants of the hotel.
SIR Mortimer was known TO be ill., and
my condition would arouse no sus.
picion
All the facts as | swiftly reviewed
them htted neatly. The inference was
unmistakable:
Ihls was the suite of Sir Mortimer
Brett They bad come for the racket
OF papers they were now reading The
presence of Sir Mortimer Brett with
'hcm had gained them ready admis.
sion TO his rooms.
ana now that they had found the
papers?
had ! served my purpose? Was the
invitation to Madame, de Varnier's
chateau a ruse cleverly planned sim.
pF 20 bring me to this hotel as Sir !
Mortimer? ,
~ mat case ! must be alert that
.n'y ala not slip through my hands s
iea'lng me here IN Sir Mortimcr's :
rooms to explain my predicament on S
'ne morrow as best | might. !
Or was this the prelude to other nd. /
'eh'nres even more exciting? Was
'ue game only just begun? I
Sun ] watched them intent,v while I
neSe perplexing questions demanded 7
~ answer They had finished the ma.
pers now. Dr. Starva was seated in c
sulen gloom; Madame de varnier n
snaed to and fro in angry indecis,on. b
4 loud knock on the door openinp $
"'o 'he hall startled me almost as
nuch as themselves. Madame dc Var. r
ner thrust the papers into the bosom h
= her dress: then. while DR.. Starya at /.
: sign from her answered the sum. Il
nons' she hastily restored the room To a
UPWARD signs of order. II
What is 1t? Who is there?" starva /.
Denanded In an agitated voice. o
u is Henri, the concierge" replied n
me intruder. =
io-morrow, tomorrow"
but there is an English gentleman a
'no says that he must see his Excel.
~ would be difficult to say whether b.
nN startling request alarmed them lo
"ore Than It did myself. I listened d,
reathless. DIR. Starvas presence of i;
-iHu seemed Tn bnvo ,,tt. 49,. a, | a..