The Sonora Sun. (Sonora, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 20, 1907 Page: 3 of 8
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By>4A77/U& HENRY* VZSEY
OcapmusffT.iooe, iv D AP/ttnyv <s cortnwr)
CHAPTER XIII.—Continued.
To all purposes, I was a catted pris-
oner. The risk I had run to spy on
them would be to no purpose unless l
could surprise them at their night’s
work.
1 raged at my impotence. Then I
thought Of the window. Perhaps there
wns a balcony.
There was no blind at the window,
hut wooden shutters that fastened
with a catch. I pushed open the
French windows. Yes, there was the
balcony, and to my joy I saw that it
extended the length of the suite.
And now a new difficulty stared me
In the face. At any moment they
might enter the bedroom, and when I
had gained the balcony, outside the
ealon, would shutters prevent my see-
ing within?
As to the first risk I must take it.
The door had jammed before; it
would jam again. The noise made in
opening it would give me some warn-
ing.
1 gained the balcony; there were
shutters, but I could see readily
through the interstices.
It was the apartment we had first
entered; and it bore unmistakable
signs of having been minutely ran-
sacked. A large empire desk had been
pried open. Papers had been abstract-
ed from the drawers and pigeonholes;
they lay about in confusion. In more
than one place the carpet had been
torn up at the edges.
As I peered cautiously within, Dr.
Starva was lowering the Venetian
blind of another window. Evidently
they were searching the room with
the knowledge that an article of value
was hidden there.
I heard Madame de Varnier cry out
excitedly. A packet, concealed be-
tween the slats of a Venetian blind,
had fallen to the floor.
Without a doubt it was for this
packet of papers that they had been
searching. Madame de Varnier tore
the envelope in feverish haste. She
scanned the contents of the papers
with Intense eagerness, Dr. Starva
looking over her shoulder. As they
read, their faces expressed disap-
pointment and chagrin. Dr. Starva
questioned Madame de Varnier repeat-
edly. She put aside his fierce inquiries
with impatience.
And now 1 made a second discovery.
I thought I understood the meaning
of this extraordinary plot in coming
to the hotel at Vitznau. I had guessed
long since that I bore a sufficiently
striking resemblance to Sir Mortimer
Drett to deceive at least the first cas-
ual glance. Otherwise, why the amaze-
ment of the Ilretts and Madame de
Varnier in first seeing me? How else
could I explain the events of the
night? They had drugged me, or at-
tempted to do so, that I might be
oblivious to inconvenient inquiries or
greetings. The hat and cloak of Sir
Mortimer, which Dr. Starva had pro-
cured in some manner, were unusual
enough in character to be readily rec-
ognized by the servants of the hotel.
Sir Mortimer was known to be ill, and
my condition would arouse no sus-
picion.
All the facts .as I swiftly reviewed
them fitted neatly. The inference was
unmistakable;
This was the suite of Sir Mortimer
Brett. They had come for the packet
of papers they were now reading. The
presence of Sir Mortimer Brett with
them had gained them ready admis-
sion to his rooms.
And now ftat they had found the
papers?
Had I served my purpose? Was the
Invitation to Madame de Varnier’s
chateau a ruse cleverly planned sim-
ply to bring me to this hotel as Sir
Mortimer?
In that case I must he alert that
they did not slip through my hnnds,
leaving me here in Sir
rooms to explain my predicament on
the morrow as best. 1 might.
Or was this the prelude to other ad-
ventures even more exciting? Was
the game only just begun?
Still I watched them intently, while
these perplexing questions demanded
an answer. They had finished the pa-
pers now. Dr. Starva was seated in
sullen gloom; Madame de Varnier
glided to and fro in angry indecision.
A loud knock on the door opening
into the hall startled me almost as
much as themselves. Madame de Var-
nier thrust the papers into the bosom
of her dress; then, while Dr. Starva at
a sign from her answered the sum-
mons, she hastily restored the room to
outward signs of order.
"What Is it? Who is there?" Starva
demanded in an agitated voice.
"It is Henri, the concierge," replied
the Intruder.
"To-morrow, to-morrow."
"But there is an English gentleman
who viys that he must see his Excel-
lency."
It would be difficult to say whether
this startling request alarmed them
more than it did myself. 1 listened
breathless. Dr. Starva's presence of
mind seemed to have quite deserted
him. He drew a revolver from his
pocket. Madame de Varnier made a
contemptuous sign expressive of his
folly. He thrust it Into bis coat again;
renewed his expostulations to the con-
cierge. But the man was persistent.
At last, at a signal from Madame de
Varnier, he was admitted to the room.
The presence of Madame de Varnier
startled him. For the first time she
spoke.
"My dear man, be discreet. Behold
nie, a woman, and at this hour of the
night In a gentleman’s apartment. Is
not that a reason that you exercise
your discretion?"
It was cleverly done, her pertuba-
tion and distraction. She made her
appeal dramatically, her hands clasped
in her anxiety.
"Madam is mistaken if she thinks I
am not discreet," protested the little
man. "If it were possible I would
shield madam. But he stands without,
in the hall, this stubborn Englishman.
Madain can save her reputation only
by retreating to the bedroom. Have
no fear, I shall not betray madain.”
It was time for me to beat a hasty
retreat. But my curiosity still held
me.
"Have I not told you,” fiercely in-
terrupted Dr. Starva, "that it is not
his Excellency who is here with
madam? It is a Mr. Haddon, and
madam is his nurse and I am his
should be believed as readily later as
now. In the meantime chance might
favor me; and my ruse be not wholly
In vain.
CHAPTER XIV.
The King’s Messenger.
A minute passed and the bedrooAl
door was again opened. Madame de
Varnier and Dr. Starva conversed in
hurried whispers, the electric light
shining full on my face. I moved about
restlessly, but did not open my eyes.
Presently the woman seated herself at
my bedside. Dr. Starva left the room,
the door being Bllghtiy ajar.
I could not resist the temptation to
half open my eyes. Madame de Var-
nier was praying fervently, regarding
with passionate adoration a jeweled
cross held before her eyes. A peremp-
tory knock at the door of the drawing-
room opening on the corridor put an
abrupt end to these devotions, which
seemed to me so incongruous. She
clasped her hands; she listened, rigid
with anxiety, it may be imagined that
l myself listened, scarcely less anx-
ious. It was the concierge again.
"Here is the Englishman's card. He
says he is a king's messenger. He
brings Important dispatches. He in-
sists that were his Excellency at the
point of death he must none th^ less
place these dispatches in his bauds to-
night.”
"But as his Excellency's physician I
forbid it," replied Dr. Starva, with de-
termination.
"And," entreated the woman gliding
to the door, "can you not make him
understand how disagreeable it would
be for me to lie surprised in these
rooms, and that it would annoy Sir
Mortimer beyond measure?”
“It is useless, madam. Have I not
told him that embarrassing circum-
stances make it Impossible that his
“Your Excellency!” He Said Gently.
"Your Excellency!”
physician. Tell this stubborn English-
man that, imbecile.”
"Monsieur will please be reasonable.
I cannot help using my eyes."
"Use them yourself if you will," des-
perately replied Starva. "But at least
you need not tell this Englishman the
truth.”
“It is Impossible to deceive him,"
persisted the concierge. "Ail day he
has been waaing for his Excellency.
A quarter of an hour ago he was
smoking in the garden below. He has
Mortimer’s faeen the light shining through the
shutters of his Excellency’s apartment.
He knows that it is the apartment of
his Excellency."
"You ran tell him that you have
placed Mr. Haddon In these rooms for
the night only,” persuaded Dr. Starva,
producing his pocketbook.
"No, monsieur," replied the con-
cierge sorrowfully, his eyes on the
notes held toward him, "it Is impossi-
ble. He will tell the manager and I
shall lose my place.”
"Go to this Englishman." Inter-
rupted Madame de Varnier; "demand
his business. Say that his Excellency
Excellency be officially recognized to-
night?"
"And still he insists?” inquired Star-
va angrily.
"As only the stubborn English can
insist. He is outside the door at this
moment. He has sent me to you, not
to ask permission, but to announce
his coming. He refuses to go away
until he has Been his Excellency. If
the door is not. opened in five minutes
he will call the manager of the hotel."
"His name?”
“I am giving you his card.”
'“Captain Reginald Forbes," read
Madame de Varnier. “Well, we will
admit this Captain Forbes."
I listened to this dialogue with a
trepidation that deprived me of power
to think or act. That fatal indecision
which, on certainly one occasion, had
already brought its tragic penalty
again seized me. The crisis Impend-
ing might leave In its wake conse-
quences too grave to be thought of—
might leave tae a man disgraced and
liable to the extreme penalty of the
law. And yet I lay still, in a night-
mare of indecision and inaction. It
Is ill, very 111. There have been days was the same numbness of will that
that he has not slept. His physician
and his nurse have grave fears for his
life if he is aroused. To awaken him
Is perhaps to bring on again a crisis
of the nerves. But as soon as he
awakes we will summon the English-
man."
”1 go," the servant assented reluct-
antly. "But It will be useless.”
I dared not await the result of his
had paralyzed me on the Rtralegg
Pass. Heaven grant that the conse
quences now be not as disastrous!
I heard the click of a revolver. Then
Captain Forties was admitted to the
salon.
"Where Is Sir Mortimer Brett?" he
demanded harshly. "I must see him
without further delay. May I ask who
yon are, sir?"
"The physician, of his Excellency,"
errand. 1 returned deliberately to my
bed, deliberately, ao that I might not ! replied Starva, bowing. He was no
lose my breath. I was in a terrible I longer attemptfng to deny that I was
predicament. To rescue myself from | Sir Mortimer Brett. "Sir Mortimer
without an instant's delay. The
knowledge that I certainly should not
be believed made me hisltate. No; I
had gone too far to retreat now. If
my strait proved absolutely desperate
and a confession was inevitable, 1
it I must make known my true Identity I is seriously III. I refuse to permit
him to be disturbed. I have brought
him here to Vitznau. hoping that the
old surroundings may Induce him to
sleep. It Is a nervous disorder that
has prostrated Sir Mortimer. He has
suffered terribly from Insomnia. There
are moments when he Is delirious To
bring him sleep It was necessary to
give him an opiate, you understand.
If he is uwakened he may be sana or
he may deny his very identity.”
"Which is his room?”
“Captain Forbes, I forbid It. It is
Impossible. 1 warn you—’’
Madame de Varnier opened the door
of the bedroom quietly.
"If the gentleman Insists on awak-
ing Sir Mortimer we are powerless,"
she said gently. "But at least let him
not be excited more than necessary,
sir."
"I shall endeavor to follow your in-
structions, madam," said Forbes stiffly.
He strode to my bedside. I could
imagine with what breathless anxiety
the adventurers watched him. Was
he sufficiently intimate with Sir Mor-
tlmci Brett to denounce me instantly
as an Impostor?
"Your Excellency!” he said gently.
"Your Excellency!”
The Immediate danger of discovery
was past. At least he had not de-
tected the deception so far. He called
me again; he shook my shoulder re-
spectfully. I opened my eyes.
"What is it?" 1 demanded, bewildered,
t am horrified to-day when l think of
the facility that was mine In playfng
this game of intrigue. 1 looked lan-
guidly from Captain ForbeB to Madame
de Varnier, who had resumed her seat
at the bedside. The question was ad-
dressed to her.
She took my hand. "This Is Captain
Forbes, a king's messenger. He has
brought you dispatches of impor-
tance."
"Ah, yes,” I said wearily, and looked
at him with dull eyes.
“I am sorry to arouse you, sir."
Contempt for the man struggled with
respect for his office. "But my orders
at the Foreign Office were to give you
these papers at the earliest possible
moment. The business is urgent. May
1 suggest that you read them at once?"
My eyes unconsciously turned to
Madame de Varnier for guidance. She
stroked my hand gently.
"Do you not see that he is in no
condition to be disturbed to-night?”
she asked indignantly.
For the first time Captain Forbes
hesitated. He placed one sunburned
hand on his breast as if to guard jeal-
ously the dispatches he bore. That he
should hesitate at all seemed to me
Incredible. But Cuptaln Forbes
seemed a fair example of that type of
Englishman who perforins his duty
with the stubbornness and obstinacy
of u fool as well as a hero. Chance
often determines which of the two
characters he shall assume. It is true
he had not the remotest suspicion that
I was not Sir Mortimer. But surely
he must see that 1 was in the power of
these adventurers.
All my fears reached a climax,
when, looking steadily at me a mo-
ment, he turned to the others:
"I must speak to Sir Mortimer
alone.”
I saw Starva grasp the revolver con-
cealed beneath his coat. Madame do
Varnier sllencdd the protests on his
lips with a meaning glance. She real-
ized the uselessness of further resist-
ance.
"You will not excite him more than
necessary," she entreated anxiously.
"And you must not be surprised to
find his mind still confused as a result
of the opiate given him."
"I shall spare him as far as possi-
ble," Forbes replied with some stern-
ness. Drawing himself erect, his arms
folded, he waited until the door had
closed behind them.
My first Impulse was to put an end
to this farce. But. again I hesitated.
They were listening outside that door;
every suspicion was alert; the slight-
est cause would fan the suspicion to
a flame.
And then, what? I should have
made myself ridiculous to no purpose.
I had gone far In my reckless venture
—too far to risk all by attempting to
warn Captain Forbes at this crucial
moment. His brain worked too slowly
—he was too deficient In imagityition
—too much lacking In subtlety and
finesse. I refused—recklessly, if you
will, but deliberately—to risk the suc-
cess of my scheme by drumming Into
the dull brain of Captain Forbes the
true state of affairs. It would have
taken him a good quarter of an hour
to grasp merely the facts. At tliat
time he would understand Just enough
of them to bo stubbornly convinced
that 1 was equally involved with the
other two, but he would think my
nerve hud failed me und that. I was
attempting to purchase my own free-
dom from punishment at the expense
of the others. And certainly they
would drag me down with them, If
for no other purpose than revenge.
No; this was not the hour for confi-
dences; Captain Forbes was not the
man to be made a confidant at such
an hour.
He looked down at me with cold re-
spect. Outwardly I met his steady
look with something of fortitude and
comiHisure, hut beneath the clothes
my two hands were clenched rigid.
From a silk bag susjiendod about
his neck he produced two envelopes.
He weighed them In his hand a mo-
ment ; then he placed the bulkier of
the two In Its silk case. The other
he held toward me.
“The Foreign Office, sir. has Intrust-
ed to me two dispatches. My orders
are to place them in your hands at the
earliest opportunity. But one of these
dispatches 1 know to lie of great im-
portance. I shall therefore keep It for
the present, unless you demand It."
"No, no," I muttered hoarsely, "I
cannot receive it now."
"Then to-morrow, sir, I shall hope to
find you In better health. Then I shall
give you the second dispatch. This
one I leave with you now. and may I
suggest that you read It at your
earliest convenience?"
(TO BB CONTINUED.)
E RICANS
HOME
ADFORD
EDITOR
Mr. William A. Radford will answer
questions and give advice FREE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining to the
subject of building for the readers of this
paper. On account of hla wide expe-
rience as Editor. Author and Manufac-
turer. ho Is, without doubt, the highest
authority on all these subjects. Address
all Inquiries to William A. Kadford, No.
1M Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and only
ancloae two-cent stamp for reply.
A little house we've got, on a flower
bowered lot. In a hustling, breezy busy
little city; It's big enough for two, for
our wants are very few, there's only
Just myself and little Kitty.
A simple little house like this is
very much like going back to first
principles, but it furnishes accommo-
dation for two Just as well as a more
elaborate affair. We all have acquaint-
ances, especially among our older
friends, who commenced life as simply
as this and who are now enjoying
the accumulations resulting from fru-
gality and good management.
If a yonng couple forms the habit
of paying rent they are very likely to
l>ay rent as long as they live. We
often hear the remark that it Is
cheaper to pay rent than to own your
property. There never was a more
foolish or misleading statement. The
man who lives In a rented house sel-
dom gets ahead financially. This
holds good whether he is working on
salary or is conducting a business on
his otfn account. It would be difficult
to say why, but it probably is because
in the majority of cases a renter falls
to give attention to the advancing
value of real estate.
I knew a man, a clerk In a lubricat-
ing oil factory, who rented a new
house on a pleasant street about 20
years ago. At first he paid $20 per
month, but In seven or eight years’
time the rent was raised to $25. He
is still living in the same house and is
now paying $25 per month. The
house has not Improved with age, and
he is continually looking about to bet-
ter his condition, but can find no other
property that suits him so well or that
he can rent at a cheaper rate In pro-
portion to the advantages he now has.
A little house like this may be
made very attractive by making a nice
lawn and planting a few trees and
flowers. The lawn is the most essen-
tial and the most difficult undertaking
on the average town lot. The ground
often is not very good, it is mixed
with cellar earth and rubbish that is
not well calculated for a good seed
bed for grass. It Is easy to put the
ground In proper shape, however. If
the job is started from the bottom.
The ground must be plowed deep, and
thoroughly worked to get the objec-
tionable grass roots out of It. The
condition of the soli will determine
whether to seed the first year or the
second year. If there Is no humus In
the soil it will pay to cover it thick
with coarse manure and plow it under.
This again leads to complications in
the moisture problem, but if you have
a hose attachment you can easily keep
the ground moist. The top two or
three inches of earth must be repeut-
edly worked with a disc harrow, or
some such implement, every other day
for a week or two to kill the weeds
as they sprout, then if the top is well
mixed with a good commercial fer-
tilizer the grass seed may be sown
and you have a lawn that will last
as long as you want it, a lawn that
will be green when others arc parched
with sun, a lawn that will look velvety
and add ten or 20 per cent to the
value of the property.
This is a secret that not many
householders understand. It is not
the house Itself that makes the homo
desirable. I have seen cheap little
houses made so attractive that
strangers passing would stop to ad-
mire.
A young man can build a house like
this for seven or eight hundred dollars,
and the money that he would natural-
ly jiay out for rent will pay for It In
a few years' time. He can grow fruit
trees and have fruit enough for home
use and some to sell without going to
much expense or spending a great
deal of time in the garden. An hour
He has paid enough rent to buy the
house, to pay all street Improvements,
city taxes, Insurance and repairs. He
tells me he was offered the property
years ago for $2,500, which he thought
was too much money. The lot Itself
Is worth more than-that to-day. This
is one instance in a great many sine
Bar ones that have come to my notice,
it Is not always that a neighborhood
Improves so rapidly and substantially,
hut generally speaking all property In
American towns advances In value.
There Is another very great advan-
tage in ownln ; a home, and that is
the comfortable feeling you have of
Floor Plan.
being a landed proprietor and the
! fact that you are not obliged to have
| your rent money ready promptly when
the month comes round. You can
plant a tree or a shrub or some flower
bulbs without the permission of the
landlord, you can make alterations In
the bouse when it suits your conven-
ience, and If the house or neighbor-
hood Is not to your liking, you can
rent It and borrow the money to build
another, and the rent from the old
uoe will help pay tor the new.
or two at night for a few weeks early
In the season will accomplish a good
deal if the work Is intelligently laid
out. In building a house like this
don't forget the outside embellish-
ments. The lawn and the garden will
be the making of the property. At the
Hame time you will be setting a good
example that is almost sure to benefit
the neighborhood.
Another very imiiortant Item Is the
painting. A little house sometimes is
conspicuous just because it is small
and more attention Is paid to It than
other houses in the neighborhood, es-
pecially If it is nicely jialnted and
neatly kept. Always chooBe quiet
colors for a small house; never at-
tempt to make It showy. A drab with
white trimmings always looks well.
You may deviate from this without
serious Injury, possibly, but you can-
not Improve on a light drab with white
trimmings for a small house, espe-
cially if it is partly hidden among the
trees and screened with vines.
Tree That Really Weeps.
Among the historical curiosities to
be teen at Chatsworth House, Eng-
land, the residence of the Duke of
Devonshire, is a willow tree that
weeps, very often to the personal dis-
comfort of those beneath it.
To the casual observer It appears
just an ordinary willow, but on closer
inspection it Is seen to be artfully
artificial. It Is made from a metal
to closely resemble a living tree, and
each of Its branches Is covered with
Innumerable holes. In fact, the whole
tree Is a monster syringe, being con-
nected to a water main near by.
The key for turning on and off Is
close at hand, and many a visiting
party has been enticed beneath its
branches by practical Jokers.
Fatal Admission.
"What other qualifications have you
for the place?" asked the merchant.
"Well,” began the applicant, "my
friends tell me I have a contented dis-
position, and—”
"You won't do,” replied the mer-
chant. “We want a man with a dis-
contented disposition, one that will
buatlo." — Catholic Standard and
Timas. 1
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Woodruff, D. B. The Sonora Sun. (Sonora, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 20, Ed. 1 Saturday, July 20, 1907, newspaper, July 20, 1907; Sonora, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth979189/m1/3/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .