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

TT fs true" she murmured- TT 4:
true, and too horrible"
'Do not believe 1t" said obstinate
~. TT Is impossible"
Can one deny a fact2 Am chilt
90 be solaced with smooth words7
have seen; I must believe. though God
knows the truth makes mo wish hun
drcd times that I lay beside my poor
,disgraced brother"
1t is always painful to see one whom
fwe respect the prey Of An emotion un'
controlled. II was doubly painfT 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 tho safe. and that be.
fore many minutes were passed l
might have the papers in my posses
sion.
The woman who tortured us both
stood at tho threshold Of tho little
room Helena Ind Just left, malevo-
lent figure In her hour Of triumph.
AS l looked toward her, tempted to ex-
pei her brutally from that room, and IL
my surmise was false. to force from
her, oven by violence. II necessary.
the combination Of the safe. she with
drew hastily, leaving Helena and my
self alone. It was then that / feared
the worst. She had appealed to Hell
sna. She was confident of her sue
CESS.
Still held Helena's hands tightly In
mine. I wished TO give back to hor
her poise. her calm courage.
"Mr. Haddon," she whispered pres
entity. do you thinks 1t possible
to do this thing?"
1T is possible; but II would be the
act Of a madman and liar" l said
gently.
you say It Ia possible" She with
drew her hands almost roughly, Her
voice was monotonous and harsh.
Then you Will save us. mother and
myself, from this deep disgrace
There is no service that l would
not do for you. Miss Brett, that would
bring you pence and happiness"
Peace! Happiness" she interrupt
ed with fierce remonstrance. Il 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 If silence can
be purchased It must be. | dare not
let my brothers name be held in re-
proach. l dare not. ! cannot. for his
mothers sake. let 1t be known that he
has been false to England"
1--WE may yet save him If"
Yes" she broke In with a strange |
eaultancy that was even more dread
full to me than her despair, and It is
you whom l have despised that Is to
save us. A life for life-those were
the words I said to you at Lucerne.
Now 1t is to be dlshonor for dishonor,
| am asking you terrible sacrifice.
am dragging you with me 10 the
depths. But there is no other to help
US Say that you Will"
Your grief ro5s you of your rea-
Bon," l said gently. Escape is not to
be found in that way. 1t Is the last
hope of a desperate and INSCRIPTIONS
who has herself little
hope of success. 1t is her last card.
and she will lose nothing by playing
It. But We, you and l. wo risk every
"Ah. you refuse, You are afraid Of
the risks. might have known you
would be afraid, That woman said
that 1t was hopeless to ask service
30 heroic from one who was a proven
. Oh, forgive me, did not mean to
cay that"
Miss Brett, think there is no dis
grace would not gladly endure to
help you. l swore TO rescue your
brothers. honor II 1t were possible. II
could do 80 now. though / sacrificed
myself. / tell you ] would. More than ,
that. though every instinct tells me
hat I should fail, I will do what you ,
ask even now
Heaven bless you'll" She cried
,rokenly.
But first OF all want you to realize
clearly just what you are asking. | s
want you TO be quito sure that you are
lot adding dishonor to dishonor in I
lsking me to do this thing. No: II Is
lot that l am afraid. l have not that
lind OF fear. But think that neither s
# US should be 80 cowardly as to yield
o this woman's demands. In the ora. r
ory yonder lies your brother. Ask ,
when you see him, IL IL is 7
merely the merciful hand of death that
las smoothed his forehead, or whether s
he calm and serenity is that of a man
vho held the motto Of his house. Hon. g
IT. Ny Sword"
This appeal was perhaps not wholly |
incere. One cannot deny facts be. G
ause one wishes TO. 1t still seemed Z
o me that 1t must be true that Sir
Mortimer was proven guilty OF taking d
,ribes.
Nor did I dare tell Helena now of !
ny wild conjecture. I dared not raise \
Ter hopes at the risk OF a speedy dia.
llusionment Once tho papers were
n my possession. together we could
efy Madame de Varnier. And II dis.
was TO be mine hoped