The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-08

heavy door closed. Laromie heard the bolts
slide into the heap, and then all was silent
The dungeon in which he lay was perfect
ly dark, and he was bound so securely that
he could not move o limb 5 III.
he had no hope of escape. He was IN
i the hands of his most inveterate enemies,
4 and he knew he could expect no mercy
| from them They had long threatened him
with vengeance for the injuries he had in
fiicted upon them by detecting their plots,
and, now that they had him in their power,
be felt sure that they would carry. out their
diabolical threat Though he was without
hope he was not deserted by his courage.
He was a brave man, and he resolved to
meet his fate with fortitude. Still he ours
cd his folly bitterly, and was almost
| though not quite-ready to swear that if he
| could escape this time he would never look
at q woman aga
He had been in the cell little over an
hour when he heard noise as if part Of
the flooring was being moved. He listened
intently. The sound continued to be heard.
Then some one spoke his own name in low
whisper.
"Laromie! are you herea" asked the
voice.
eyes," replied the detective, shut who,
in the fend's name, are you"
The voice repeated the watchword of the
secret police, and then Laromie was con-
scious of the presence of another person in
the cell.
"Regnard, is it youa" asked Laromie,
who recognized the voice as one of his fel-
low detectives. "How did you get here p
Regnard drew back the shade of dark
lantern, and showed Laromie square open
ing in the floor.
Through that hole" he replied "But
stay! Let me commence at the beginning.
What you said to the chief about your little
affair made him anxious for you safety. He
set me to watch you, so that we might as
sist, if you got into trouble. followed you
to the opera, and rode behind the carriage
which brought you here. The name of the |
lady, which, if you recollect, you gave to
the chief, did not correspond with that of |
the woman who resides here. I reported |
your presence here to the chief. 1t seems |
that he once used this building for govern
ment purposes. There is q secret passage |
from this prison chamber to the Hotel de |
Vile, and another from here to the upper
part of the house. He is well acquainted |
with them, having used them years ago.
The secret was never impaired to any one
out of the employ of the State, and no one
else could have discovered it. The chief
instructed me how to use the passages; and
being still anxious for your safety, he d.
rected me to gain admittance to the house
by means of them, and learn what 1 could
concerning you. had no idea of finding
you here. Tell me what is the meaning Of
your being here bound in this way2"
"First cut these cords, and I WILL" said
Laromie
He was soon freed from his bonds; after
which he related all that had happened to
him
"a plan suggests itself to me-" he added.
He quickly explained to his companion the
design which had presented itself to him
at that instant. Regnard shook his head.
1T involves great risk" he added grave
ly. 'It may be fatal to you"
Regnard showed him how to work the
opening in the floor, and then arranged the
cords so that it should seem that Laromi
was still bound by them, but fixed them in
such manner that he could nd himself of
Them at moments warning. He left his
antern. and some matches with Laromie,
md then entering the secret passage, closed
he opening after him, and Laromie was
llone once more. He placed himself over
tone, and then fell fast asleep.
The next day passed away slowly and the
light came at last Precisely at o'clock.
1aromie heard the door of his cell unlocked.
t swung open and Mr. Roulier appeared, :
'earing large lamp. As he entered the
DOM the light suddenly went out.
aCOme in my friends - ba oo;d ,,,;ol-l,, |
Let US close the door, and stop this draft,
nd then we'll light the lamp again. 1 have t
Matches" "
In response to the summons about thirty c
men entered and the door was closed.
Monsieur Laromie, y exclaimed M Roulier
are you here 2"
ITO be sure am" replied the detective
How could 1 get away?" :
True" muttered the socialist. snow
Dr. light"
At this moment the lamp was dashed
ON his hand by a heavy blow. (
what does this mean 7" he exclaimed
luckily. G
ut MEANS" exclaimed Laromie, in loud
dice "that you are all my prisoners"
As he spoke the room was lit up by the
lare OF dozen lanterns from which the
ak slides were drawn suddenly back and f.
he astounded socialists found themselves in | il
he presence Of forty strong and well armed
The denoument was so sudden fe
nd startling that they could not speak at ;,
ISL. The police were prompt, and secured :
leir prisoners before they had recovered n
ON their surprise. ~
"Well, Monsieur Roulier," said Laromie.
Milling, "the tables have been turned this h
me-"
The socialist glared at him, and muttered I
stween his teeth, "You must be in league
18th the devil. T
Perhaps 1 am" said Laromie. with a |
ugh. At all events. monsieur, 1 was not l
ady to have my heart cut OUT.
The prisoners were conducted to the upper
are OF the house, so that they did not learn
e secret OF the subterranean passage by
hlch the police had entered the cell and q
the last they regarded their presence there q
piece of diabolism on Laromie,s mart
he woman who had ensnared the detective
as also arrested.
As he passed her, Laromie said sarcastic
il y, "! hope you will have pleasant visit
Algeirs."
She lowered her eyes and replied in :
W tone, 81 deserve this, monsieur. for be.
aying my mothers emily friend.n
The prisoners. being old offenders. were >.
convicted, and were transported to the Of
nal colony. VI
The story soon became known through I
It Paris, and the old house in which the Al
tective had been imprisoned became an Pa
lect OF great curiosity to the citizens. The
lsoners themselves, however, never learnt
solution Of the mystery. If thew ever
urn to France, perhaps they may hear of
off