Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-01

secret space for keeping vaIuables-
perhaps state papers. Might not the
paper she had found In the volume be
a memorandum OF where the cham
Der lay. Doubtless Hildreth had in
advertently used the slip as a book
mark and forgotten TO remove 1t.
Moved by curiosity alone, she nerved
herself to press the button The door
of a little safe a few inches square
few open. Within lay a paper. She
took 1t out and read there in pencil
on the outside, 1.-THE open door"
What she had come to do and had
not tried to do had been done for her.
Here was the document she required.
On a desk In the same room were pen,
ink and paper. She alone OF the fam
lily remained below. She might take
the paper to the desk. copy its essen
tial points, which was all her employer
required, replace it. put everything
back as she found it, and who would
be the wiser?
Another plan suggested itself to her.
She might take the paper to her room.
copy IT, steal downstairs, put 1T back
in the safe and replace the books be-
fore 1T.
Mile. de Guillemette stood with the
paper in her hand, thinking Of the
100000 francs that she could gain by
taking a copy of its contents to the
Austrian ambassador. With the money
she could place her family at least be-
yond want. Her employer had told
her that such were the methods in
vogue among European diplomats; that
he would not scruple himself to obtain
the document surreptitiously; that she
would be unwise to let pass such a
means of re-establishing her family.
Then she thought of the Hildreths-
mother, daughter, son. They had with
true American warmth taken her to
their hearts. They had pftied her for
the position she occupied Of one born
to a station she could not support
Hugh had that very evening told her
of his ambition. That ambition she
would shatter by stealing the contents
of an important paper which had been
intrusted to his care. He would never
be forgiven for the leak, for he would
be considered either a fool or a knave.
She thrust the document back into
the safe, closed the door, replaced the
books before it and. taking up the
volume that had been recommended to
her, sat down all of a tremor.
"How do you like ftp said a voice
behind her.
Turning, she saw Hugh Hildreth ad-
vancing.
Something is wrong with you" he
said alphabetically.
She burst into convulsive sobbing.
''Tell me your trouble, little GIRL" he
added, drawing a chair up before her.
81 am not fit to be in the home of
such kind people. Please send me
awayr'
ION the contrary, you have achieved
that which 1 have never achieved
you have resisted a terrible tempta-
ton. / myself have been tempted and
usually succumbed. And mine was not
half the strain you have borne"
She looked at him through her tears
in astonishment. How do you know
that have been temptedY' she asked.
''That Austrian's methods I know
well. He would give millions for the
contents of the document you have
Just handled"
You saw mer' She was trembling
from head to foot.
Eyes; 1 laid a trap for you. When
the Austrian introduced me / knew he
had motive. l saw at once that you
were not the girl for such work, and
when you were going away without
even an attempt L determined to put
you to a severe test. l wished to see
how you would act with the object in
your hands for which you had come.
called your attention to the volume
wished you to read and purposely
left guide in IT to my safe and left
the safe unlocked. Then 1 went up
stairs by the main staircase and came
down by a rear one. have been be-
bind that curtain, where i could see
and not be seen. / have witnessed
your temptation and your triumph"
You mean my degradation at hav-
ing listened to such a temptation"
mot at all. That Austrian fiend
could start an angel on a downward
course You are excusable for the
starting and to be commended for the
ending 1 confess L have been under
the rack myself lest you should yield.
If you had yielded it would have
broken my heart and / should have
tempting you. AS it is, re-
joice that 1 did"
The De Guillemettes, at least that
branch of the family consisting OF
Mile. Elise de Guillemette and her
mother. were benefited some time after
this occurrence by a marriage between
Nile. Elise de Guillemette and the
wealthy American diplomat, Hugh Hill
dreth.