| Show BANNER SERIAL FICTION shw aft painted alik 40 it an 10 idimo d her e ir IF fac c A 4 dov of tow adi W dae B YATES service 0 Do Dorr rinford Jord yat yaten CHAPTER XI continued 23 As the door closed lord ferdi nand spoke again will will he go to london with you I 1 shook my head hell take me to innsbruck Inns bruck this evening spend the night there and be back tomorrow at noon 1 I see he said no more but I 1 saw him pick up a pencil as though to write then he seemed to remember my presence and laid the pencil down winter reentered entered re the room As he gave the case into my hand 1 I shall want you again I 1 said so wait within call very good sir As he left the chamber I 1 held a paper up the statement I 1 said A copy ot of the first of the statements your broth brother ermade made the second does not concern you because it only deals with the secret of brief the man half rose from his chair but I 1 bade him sit still then I 1 stepped to his side and laid the paper before him for him to read 1 I am glad to record that in the next three minutes minute s that blackheart black heart ed parricide paid a part of his debt As he read I 1 saw him writhing and the sweat fell down from his forehead to blur the ink it was a frightful indictment twice while he read he dropped his head to the table and cried aloud and when he had done he airey fairly airly burst into tears and laid his head down on his arm and sobbed like a child I 1 drew the statement from under his sprawling arm then I 1 picked up a pen and wrote when I 1 had done I 1 called winter whiter fetch mr parish I 1 said lord ferdinand started up lifting a visage that made even winter blench parish her graces page what has he to witness your signature I 1 shall witness it and so will my man but parish is independent and no no I 1 never consented to any such thing As you please said 1 I and folded the statement up turn out the car winter I 1 want to be at gabble within the hour very good sir said winter and turned no no not that cried the other and savaged his thumb parish or gabble said 1 I its for you to choose after a frightful struggle to witness my signature only cover the statement up yes very well I 1 turned again to winter fetch mr parish I 1 said whilst we waited he got to his feet and went to a glass and generally did what he could to pull himself into some shape and I 1 looked out the window with folded arms five minutes later the thing was over and done the damning indorsement endorsement indor Is lying before me now 1 I have read this statement through from beginning to end and 1 I hereby confess that all that it says is true FERDINAND ELBERT VIRGIL for 22 years supposed to be count of brief signed of his own free will on the twenty second july 1938 1936 in the presence of us richard exon j samuel parish george winter As winter laid down his pen all I 1 said thank you parish inclined his head and turned to the door you can take my dispatch case winter and pack my things we leave for innsbruck Inns bruck together at four to very good sir said winter obediently I 1 blotted the precious indorse ment and folded the statement up then I 1 put it into my pocket and faced the man I 1 had bluffed youve done your part I 1 said s and I 1 shall do mine As 0 one ne who is listening intently he kept his eyes upon mine and greeted every phrase witt with a nod of his head 1 I will recommend that you be allowed to disappear to go to change your name and never come back As ive told you I 1 dont think do it if a hand went up to his mouth the punishment matter its a question au estion of riah tine a wrone and that is why I 1 think insist that the case must proceed but I 1 shall know on friday and on sunday I 1 shall be back As I 1 opened the door I 1 looked back to see his outstretched hand whip back to his side As though I 1 had noticed nothing I 1 left the room I 1 have no doubt at all that before the door had closed he had picked the timetable up As I 1 took my way to t the he tower I 1 laid my plans I 1 had to leave brief at tour four no question of that for though we had the game won it was highly desirable that the count should take the departure which he had planned if he fled to avoid arrest as at present he intended to do he would indeed disappear for good and all and would never more be heard of because he could not take such a risk but it if he had reason to think that he had been bluffed though now we could force his hand he would stand upon the order of his going and would certainly be a nuisance for as long as he happened to live and so the plain plainclothes clothes man must leave for london at four and there I 1 stood still in my tracks for all of a sudden I 1 saw that here was my chance to do what sooner or later I 1 had to do that is to say to walk out of my ladys life As I 1 saw it I 1 think I 1 aged for while my whole being revolted from the plunge ten times as awful as that into palfreys Pal freys well I 1 knew in my heart that I 1 must take it because such a chance would never occur again I 1 glanced at my watch the time was a quarter to ten once my decision was taken I 1 could have wished that the time was a quarter to four I 1 had already determined that no one must know what had happened till after the count had fled and now I 1 perceived that all that I 1 had to do was to leave a note for the duchess to be delivered as soon as my victim was gone I 1 entered my room to find winter suitcase suit case in hand leave the packing tor for the moment I 1 said ill tell you when to begin I 1 want you to send off a wire I 1 sat down and wrote it out addressed to myself turn out the rolls and take this to gabble at once and on the way wa Y back you might get rid of that suit 01 old harry looked round and now she said grimly enough luncheon was over and coffee had been served in her suite for the first time for 15 hours elizabeth herrick and I 1 were alone with the duchess of whelp she was plainly out of humor and I 1 had an uneasy feeling that she knew more than I 1 was prepared to tell she demanded and why does my host keep his room if hes ill hes breaking a record for never be fore has indisposition denied me the courtesy due to my state she slapped the arm of her chair the enemy has retired im not at all deceived for this is a fight to the death but I 1 want to know what he is doing and when and where he is going to reappear cherches Cher chez la femme said herrick what of the maid old harry looked at my lady you heard what he said she declared why the devil dont you teu tell us as the truth elizabeth glanced at the door quite all right godolphin is standing outside and she knows no english at all my lady took a deep breath last night an attempt was made to put me to death my maid admitted my cousin into my suite richard came to my help and walked into a trap but by his wit and his courage he saved us both 07 fa K r I 1 4 0 kt C K AA X I 1 A F and there I 1 stood still in my tracks that is why my cousin and elsa have disappeared herricks face was a study but the duchess of whelp merely nodded and then picked up her cup and drank what coffee was left As she set it down more like it she said 1 I mean that is credible I 1 knew your life was in danger yet what could I 1 do except trust in richard exon she turned upon me did you liquidate him or did your better judgment impel you to spare I 1 his life madam said 1 I he is dead well done said old harry we well 11 done but you drop shirts about when a lady lets you out of her bedroom at half past three elizabeth started and clapped a hand to her mouth madam I 1 said 1 I see youve received a note yes said the duchess 1 I did and ill make you a present of this 1 dismissed its contents at once as being untrue but when I 1 heard that elizabeths Elizabeth ts maid was gone well I 1 knew there was something behind them and hoped for the best and now what about you I 1 understand you had a note why did nit you er act upon it madam said 1 I 1 I 1 preferred to hope for the best the piercing gray eyes held mine did you indeed now I 1 should have gone to see the writer at once I 1 knew that parish had told her as much as he knew madam forgive me with great respect ive a delicate hand band to play how long shall you wait till tomorrow morning madam no longer than that craft Is not my strong point a and rid the effort I 1 hd had made that morn morning ing seemed to have tired my brain rhen again though success seemed certain the count was still in his seat and I 1 was forever fearing that som something ething or other would happen to make him change the decision to which I 1 was sure he had come above all my own decision to disappear hung like some loathsome monster upon my neck insisting udon my mv attention and gleefully gleeful lv in di cating t the he several lovely features of the paradise I 1 was to lose had I 1 been cross examined or even been asked to relate what had happened the night before I 1 should I 1 believe have burst out and disgraced myself for the present was so overwhelming wh elming and the future so very bleak that to deal with the past was like going into training when you are condemned to death and there the maid godolphin came in with my telegram Craw crawlers leys case fixed tor for friday ha fie counts upon you forsyth Fo reyth my goodness I 1 said and got to my feet elizabeth stifled a cry but the duchess sat perfectly still As tor for herrick 1 must go 0 to london I 1 said 1 I must leave for innsbruck Inns bruck at once at least as soon as ive packed I 1 must catch the evening train traia 11 elizabeth let out a cry richardi richard 1 my dear ive no choice six weeks ago the servant I 1 had before winter was charged with theft I 1 had always found him honest and I 1 said that id swear as much whenever he stood his trial and his case has been fixed for friday I 1 cant let him down but I 1 can be back on sunday I 1 turned to the duchess of whelp will you excuse me madam I 1 must make certain arrangements I 1 shall ask you to see me again before I 1 leave you are excused richard exon I 1 bowed and went whilst winter packed I 1 wrote the best letter I 1 could madam by the time that you read this letter I 1 1 am very nearly sure that the count ww will have disappeared whether he has or oas has not you will know the b best es t use to make of these documents I 1 told nim him that he would oe be arrested unless he made himself scarce and that virgil had disappeared under tear fear of being charged with the theft ot of elizabeths jewels elsa is wanted tor for forgery when she knew that id aund found that out she may h have ave thought it better to find a new place I 1 think all im m rather worried about the servant who saw me drop my shirt perhaps you Y could straighten that out for or you can do what you ww with the servants of 0 brief of course im not coming back its better 0 so o I 1 mean theres no more to be done and as I 1 can neither glaze tier her n nor r rope myself off it be fai air r to her to make matters worse than I 1 have madam I 1 have so much to thank you to or r your obedient affectionate servant ter vant richard exon with this I 1 enclosed two documents one was the statement indorsed endorsed indor sed by lord ferdinand and the other the death certificate of matthew gering TO BE CONTINUED |
