The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-02-13
CHAPTER xxx.
. Open the Safe.

IT, at is impossible"
Can one deny fact? Am child
10 be soiaced with smooth words!
have seen; / must believe, though God
Knows the truth makes me wish hun
dred times that l lay beside my poor
disgraced brother"
II is always painful to see one whom
we respect the prey of an emotion I'M
controlled. II was doubly painful for
me 10 see this strong woman. whose
dominant quality was courage ana
calm. writhe under the blow that de-
nrived her for the moment OF all
power to think coherently. dared
rot tell her my belief that held the
combination of the safe. and that be-
fore many minutes were passed 1
might have the papers In my posses
sion.
The woman who tortured us both
stood at the threshold of the little
room Helena had Just left, malevo-
lent figure In her hour OF triumph.
ASH hooked toward her. tempted to ex-
mel her brutaily from that room. and IL
my surmise was false. to force from
her, even by violence. II necessary
che combination Of the safe. she with
drew hastily. leaving Helena and my
self alone. II was then that ! feared
the worst. She had appealed to Hell
ena. She was confident OF her sue
cess.
sim held Heiena's hands tightly In
mine. wished to give back TO her
her poise, her cain courage.
"Mr. Haddon," she whispered pres
sntlv. do YOU thinks it possible
10 do this thing?"
ct Is possible: but It would be the
oct OF a mailman and liar" l said
gently.
You say II is possible She with
drew her hands almost roughly. Her
voice was monotonous and harsh.
Then you will save US, mother ana
myself. from this deep disgrace.
There is no service that | would
not do for you. Miss Brett, that would
bring you peace and happiness
peace! Happiness!" she interrupt
Cd with fierce remonstrance. Il do
not look for peace OF happiness. Hon
a, itself-and the motto OF the Bretts
IS Honor. My Sword'-can no longer
ne our proud boast. But II silence can
he purchased 1t must be. dare not
let my brothers name be held In re
uroach. | dare not. cannot. for his
mothers sake. let II be known that ne
mas been false TO England,
I'VE may yet save him If
yes" she broke in with a strange
~xultancy that was even more dread
ful TO me than her despair, and 1t is
YOU whom | have despised that Is TO
save us. A life for life-those were
the words | said to you at lucerne.
Now Il is to be dfshonor for dishonor.
am asking you terrible sacrifice.
em dragging you with me to the
depths. But there is no other TO help
as. Say that you will"
Your grief robs you OF your rea'
son" said gently. Escape is not to
te found in that way. 1t is the last
hope Of a desperate and unscrupulous
adventures, who has herself little
hone OF success. II is her last card.
and she will lose nothing by playing
IL. But we, you and ]. We risk every
thing"
.'Ah. you refuse! You are afraid OF
the risks. l might have known you
would be afraid. That woman said
that It was hopeless 10 ask service
90 heroic from one who was proven
- oh. forgive me, did not mean TO
say that"
Miss Brett. think there is no DIS
grace | would not gladly endure to
help you. | swore to rescue your
brothers honor If 1t were possible. II
could do SO now, though | sacrificed
myself. tell you would. More than
ttat. though every instinct tells me
that | should fail, will do what YOU
ask even POW
Heaven bless you" she cried
brokenly
But first OF all want you to realize
clearly Just what you are asking.
want you to be quite sure that you are
aot adding dlshopor to dishonor In
asking me to do this thing. No; II IL
not that am afraid have not that
ktn0 U rear. buJ tuluh ludt ntltitr
of us should be so cowardly as to yield
20 this womGn's demands. In the ora
tory yonder lies your brother. Ask
yourself when you see him, II It is
merely the mercifui hand of death that
has smoothed his forehead. or whether
the calm and serenity is that OF man
who held the motto Of his house. Hon
or. My Sword"
This appeal was perhaps not wholly
sincere. One cannot deny facts be-
cause one wishes to. IL stu seemed
to me that II must be true that Sir
Mortimer was proven guilty of taking
Dribes.
Nor did | dare tell Helena now of
any WHO conjecture. dared not raise
her hopes at the risk OF speedy dis
illnsionment Once the papers were
On ms possession. together we could
defy Madame de WARMER. And IL dis
appointment was to be mine hoped
that by the bier Of hes b,c.her Helena