The Morning examiner. [volume] (Ogden, Utah) 1904-1910, 1909-01-17


English ambassador" replied the serv-
ant, looking at me askance- But IL
he Is engaged. or not well. he Is anx-
ious to speak with madam"
At first ] was surprised that the
man had not brought the card direct
ly TO myself. 1t was strange that he
should Ignore me If he had been given
TO understand that was Sir Mortimer,
But II he were in the confidence OF
Madame dc Varnier he would do pre-
cisely that
Frankly. the coming of Captain
Forbes at this time was a surprise
scarcely less dlsagreeable for me than
for them. Tomorrow. or the day
after. he would have been perhaps
only too welcome. But now the intru-
sion was premature. 1t interfered
with my own plans as well as theirs.
More than that. / could have wished
myself in position to ,forewarn him,
to explain my tactics 1t looked as il
| were again in danger OF being caught
red handed in a criminal deception.
More than ever would Captain Forbes
be convinced that | was one of the
conspirators If he discovered at this
moment that / was not Sir Mortimer.
The man and woman converSed TO-
gether eXcitedly in a barbaric tongue.
Dr. Starya. 1t was evident, was yehe-
mently advocating some plan, Madame
de Varnier opposing It But the shock
to which she had been subjected pre-
viouS to the coming of Captain Forbes
had left her unstrung, almost apa-
thetlc Hitherto the man had been
sulkily subServient 10 the woman; now
his animal strength fought for tho
ascendency He was brushing away
her agitated protests 1t was he who
commanded the servant:
Show this Captain Forbes to the
armory. / shall see him myself"
Again he spoke fierccly TO Madame
de WARMER, She listened TO him in
silence. her eyes cast down He
strobe TO the door, stood there a mo-
ment hesitating, then left the room.
shutting the door behind him.
Madame de Warmer remained where
he had left her trembling violently,
her hands covering her face. This
was my opportunity to appeal to the
woman, and not the adventures. l
took her unreslsting hand and led her
to one of the carved seats.
Madame dc Varnler. it Is a desper-
ate game you are playing" said,
sternly yet gently II don't know what
the stakes are, but you are not going
to win them"
a white hand clung to my coat
sleeve why do you say that she
cried, staring at me with affrighted
eyes.
l pointed silently to the card she
still held in her hand.
There is one factor to be reckoned
with
She tossed her head in defiance.
"Dr Starva has reckoned with him al.
ready. my friend. Perhaps not in the
best way. but efTectnally at least. And
the other?"
We'll. there is myself"
She smiled on me wanly. "If you
were an enemy that might be more Sc
rious. I admit But / have reckoned
with YOU. You are TO be my friend.
You arc to help me-
That remains to be seen. But the
third and most serious factor is treach-
cry" l added quietly.
MY Cod Treaoheryi"
do you trust DR. Starva absolute
ly? Dare you tell me that the death
mask had as little meaning for him as
for you. until l showed you that Sig
nificance?"
But you understood its meaning as
we'll as he. Who arc you that you
should have this knowledge?'
Il know, perhaps, more than you
think, Madame dc WARMER"
1T is incredible" she cried passion
ately. that l. the Countess Sarahoff.
should be in the dark. while an Amer
lcan tourist"
The name had slipped out in her an
ger; she bit her lips.
"Oh, you need feel no CONSERVATION.
might lave called you by that name
several hours ago
Since YOU know so much" she said
IN bitter disgust, perhaps You know
the service 1 expect to ask of you"
Il might make a snrewd guess at
even tEGt,"
SIe sans back. hcr fingers inter-
locked supporting hes head She re-
matned some time IN g,oomy thought.
Suddenly door slammed l heard
faint shout; tramplng of feet
Then there was quiet again l glanced
at my companion. She waa listening
intently, her hands clutch;ng the
carved arms Of the seat
Bah. think ] am a hyBtcrioal
schoolgirl" She shrugged her shoHl-
ders in self-conIempt. Say that you
know everything monsiers, so much
The better. 1t VIII save the trouble OF
explaining on the morrow, For | shall
go ON with my plan There rs danger,
yes. out have expected danger, 1t Is
700 late to retreat. | have risked all
on a single throw / shall win. Say
that there is treachery-I shall know
how to deal with It, He is not indis-
pensable. Yes. my friend, l have
plan that cannot fail
You arc mistaken" said obstinate
ly. Your plan will fail because. IL DR..
Starva is not necessary to its success.
/ am. And i"
You will perform tho service
shall ask OF you, l hope. trust. that
you will do this service gladly. Not
for myself. perhaps, but that you may
bring happiness and peace TO down
trodden people"
CTo BE CONTINUED)