Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-30

Of
BY r n HENRY VEsrY
CHAPTER xxx.

1t Is true. she murmurcd. 1T Is
true. and too horrible"
DO not believe IT," I said obstinate.
ly.' 1T II impossible"
Can n deny a fact? Am I a child
to be solaced with smooth words? |
have seen; I must believe. though God
knows the truth makes me wish a hun.
dred times that I lay beside my poor
~disgraced brother"
II Is always painful to see n whom
we respect the prey Of an emotion I'm.
controlled. It was doubly painful for
me to see this strong woman, whose
dominant quality was courage and
calm, writhe under the blow that de-
prived her for the moment Of all
power to think coherently. dared
not tell her my belief that ! held the
combination OF the safe, and that be-
fore many minutes were passed ]
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, a malevO-
lent figure In her hour OF triumph.
As ] looked toward her. tempted to OK.
pei her brutally from that room, and II
my surmise was false, to force from
her. even by violence, II necessary,
the 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.
Still I held HcIcna's hands tightly In
mine. ! wished 20 give back to her
her poise. her calm courage.
"Mr. Haddon," she whispered pres
emily, do you Thinks It possible
to do this thing"
at Is possible; but II would be the
act OF a mailman and a liar" ] said
gently.
you say 1t is possible" She with
drew her hands almost roughly. Her
voice vas m%OnOtonous and harsh.
"Then you will save us. mother and
myself. from this deep disgrace"
"There Is no service that | would
not do for you, Miss Brett. that would
bring you peace AMI happiness"
Peace! H%appiness!" she interrupt
ed with fierce rcmonstrance. 81 do
not look for peace or happiness. Hon.
or itself-and the motto of the Bretts
is Honor, My Sword'-can no longer
be our proud boast. But II silence can
be purchased it must be. I dare not
let my brothers name be held In re.
proach. ! dare not. ! cannot. for his
mothers sake. let It be known that he
has been false to England"
I'VE may yet saw him if"
"Yes," she broke In with a strange
exultancy that was ven more dread
full to me than her despair. and 1t Is
you whom ! have despised that Is to
save us. A life for a life-those were
the words ! said to you at Lucerne.
Now 1t is to be dishonOr for dishonor.
] am asking you a terrible sacrifice. !
am dragging you with me to tho
depths. But there is no other to help
us. Say that you will"
"Your grief robs you Of your rea-
son." ] said gently. Escape is not 10
re found In that way. 1t is the last
AOuc VI uSopOIutC III hnsCI uIuIOuS
adventures, who has herself little
hope OF success. 1t is her last card,
and she will lose nothing by playing
II. But we. you and !, we risk every.
thing
"Ah, you refuse! You are afraid of
the risks. I might have known you
would be afraid. That woman said
that 1t was hopeless to ask a service
so heroic from one who was a proven
- Oh. forgive me, I did not mean to
say that"
miss Brett. ! think there Is no dis.
grace l would not gladly endure to
help you. | swore to rescue your
brothers. honor II II were possible. II
! could do so now, though ! sacrificed
myself. I tell you ! would. More than
that. though every instinct tells me
that ! should fail, I will do what you
ask eve now
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
not adding dishonor to dishonor In