The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-02-21
CHAPTER xxx.-contInued.


"The papers from the safe. did you
Eay?" asked Helena In slow wonder.
Perhaps you know that l was i'm
prisoned In the room yonder. 1t took
me three hours to loosen the bar OF
the window. / made my way round
the sloping roof OF the towers by the
stone gutter to tho window Of that
other room. The window was open.
When gained 1t, and was about TO
entor Ii, I saw this man, whom / be
Ieved TO bc your brother. enter the
room. bolt the door behind him. kneel
at the safe, open 1t, and abstract from
1t a packet OF papers which he now
has In his pocket"
II Forbes had expected Helena to
be dumfounded at this surprising
news. his wish was gratif1ed. But 1t
was wonder tempered with Infinite Joy.
The papers that convicted her brother
OF guilt had been rescued from the
cruel clutch OF Madame do Varnier.
Sho did not realize at once that 1 had
eteered clear OF Charybdis only to fall
foul to Scylla. The peril of Sir Nor
timers guilt being known was now In
fnItely greater than 1t had been half
an hour ago. Helena's defense OF my
self. and Madame de Varnicr's undme-
~ interruption. had both alienated all
sympathy from Helena and strength
ened his conviction that | was one OF
the conspirators.
II bad kept silent so long. II II
seems unmanly that | should have al
lowed a woman to plead in my behalf
1T ie because was racking my brain
for a means OF escape from the awk-
ward predicament that held mo cap
tive.
IT have told you. Captain Forbes,
that have ample reason TO believe in
the honesty OF MT Haddon. II he has
taken any papers from the safe. it Is
With my fullest and deepest gratitude.
1t was the woman there who had
stolen them from my brother. They
are personal papers. They concern
only my mother and myself now that
Mortimer is dead. Mr.. Haddon will
restore them 10 me-"
II shall forbid that" protested
Forbes hotly. Il tell you. Miss Brett
those are papers Of State. They be-
long TO the State. must see that
they arc placed In the hands Of the
ministers OF the Foreign Office. For
he last time, givc me those papers"
leaped at the loophole Helena had
offered me. II I could not prevent
their falling into the hands OF Forbes.
ut least could delay that dire event
II shall obey you. Miss Brett Into
your hands alone shall I place those
papers"
III you please" she said with dig,
nifty. and held out hand that did not
tremble TO receive them.
And still hcsitated. saw the
CLEAN Of resolution in the glitter OF
Forbes blue eyes. II produced the
papcr now 1t would be only TO have
the kings messenger snatch them
from my grasp. Forbes turned to
Helena in angry triumph.
You see. Miss Brett, he hcsitates
The woman and himself are as reluct.
ant that the papers fall into your
hands as they are that obtain them
He thinks that he may trick you. as
there nothing can say TO shake your
blind confidence in this treacherous
impostor?"
Nothing" said Helena, with resolu.
ton; but l could see her troubled sur
prise at my reluctance.
Then shall be forced to resort to
violence | am going to have those
papers. and at once. II you are SO
blind TO the grave danger of letting
this man keep the papers. even for tho
moment, / am not. How could he
have taken them from the safe unless
1t we're with the permission and per,
haps at the entreaty of this Madame
de Varnier?"
The inference is clear enough.
should think-she must have left the
door OF the safe open"
Helena spoke confidently, but trust
In me had been put TO a sore test.
"Your credulity Is very great II YOU
think that Why, madam, | saw him
deliberately work the combination OF
the safe"
Helena uttered cry OF horror at
my supposed treachery Her trust was
shattered
81 could not dream of a vlllainy so
hypocritical."
Instinctively she came close TO
Forbes side as il for protection. She
had read in my eyes that Forbes spoke
the truth. No words of mine could
convince her now of my sincerity
Madame de FarnIer had been quite
forgotten by us all Until now she
had been listening In brenthless ST.
lence. Forbes declaration that | had
taken the papers must have seemed
10 her the sheerest absurdity. She
had been certain that she had locked
the safe; she was equally certain that
no one but herself knew the word by
which It might be opened She must
have thought, too. that my tacit con-
fession OF taking the papers was a
ruse 10 deceive her, though she could
not guess It's purpose.
But when Captoin Forbes assorted
with evident sincerity that he had seen
me working the combination her anx-
Lefty became uncomfortable. AT the risk
Of being surprised at the safe. she had