The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-28

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sure, enfin I have discovered the assas-
Gins! Here 1t :sI" 6ouriahing tho key.
With some difficulty they managed to
get coherent explanation from him,
having heard which M. Dumont sent
Charles ut once in search of Roger. They
returned together Immediately, and tho
brigadier. having heard Pierre's story as
to where no had found t1e key, declared
he would at once have Macaire and
Strop searched to SEQ if they had any 0.
the stolen money upon them.
After snort absence he returned,
carrying the stolen notes. Charles on
seeing this proof of his mothers inno-
cence was too much overcome TO speak
and turned to clasp her in his arms, but
she had tainted. The shock Of this sud-
den relief from tho terrible accusation
which had been hanging over her had
been too much for her overwrought
nerves. She socn revived, however, and
then came the thought OF the wretched
man who would have to suffer the PEN
atty OF his crime, whose life had been
such tissue Of evil deeds and had so
blighted her own. She shuddered as she
thought that even now a chance word
might reveal all to Charles.
The brigadier said that he should now
take steps TO remove the two prisoners to
the gendarmerie, and to that end he
should at once send one of his men for a
cart and an additional escort, as he did
not care to risk anything with such des-
perate ruffians as these were known to
be. 1t was now getting toward evening,
and it would be quite dark by the time
they had got all done.
Macaire had submitted in sullen si-
lence to be searched by the gendarmes
and had not answered so much as by a
word when they had told him it would
be useless any longer to deny his guilt,
giving glance of utter contempt at his
miserable companion, who writhed on
the floor at their feet, groaning and inn
ploring mercy in the most abject terms.
But there was movement in the long,
sinewy fingers and gleam in the evil
eye that would have boded i'll for them
had they been fewer in number or had
they not already taken the precaution of
removing the knife, whose long, curved
back blade could do such deadly work.
Hc knew very well that all was up for
him. He could no longer expect to es-
cape the end which had been so long
awaiting him, but nevertheless the de-
sire for liberty was strong within him.
and he pondered the possibility of es-
cape. He had heard the gendarme ride
Off and guessed pretty well on what err
rand he was gone. He knew about how
long he would be gone. Once back all
chance OK escape was gone. 1t must be
now or never. He sat with his eyes fixed
on the little square window which light
ed the loft, when his attention was caught
by rope swinging in front of it. He
went up to the window and found it was
a rope belonging to q pulley which was
fastened above the window and was
probably used for raising stores into the
loft. He swiftly conceived the idea of
swinging himself onto the roof by means
of this rope and SO perhaps escape-who
could tell? He reused his companion
and told him what he meditated doing.
Strop was full Of fears. If they were
seen, they would be shot, or If they fell
they might be killed.
"All that may happen" admitted his
companion, "but what will happen IL
we remain here is that we will die ON
the guillotine. for one prefer some
other way. so I'll try this chance. You
perhaps prefer to sit here like rat in a
trap"
The thought of the guillotine gave
Strop courage, and he decided to follow
Macaire. They listened breathlessly at
the window till presently the tread of
the man who was on guard below ceased.
Macaire looked cautiously out of the
window, and seeing he had half disap-
peared into tho embrasure of the door
made sign to Strop, and mounting on
the window sill he caught hold Of tho
rope, swung himself loose, and then with
one desperate effort swung himself up
ward, catching tho edge of the parapet
and so pulling himself on the roof. He
was cautiously crawling up the face of
the roof in order to get to tho other side,
which was sheltered from the view of
the yard, when no was startled by an
ngonized yell. Strop had followed him
put of tho window, catching the rope
Ind endeavoring to swing himself up
ward as Macaire had done, when just as
he was in midair the rope gave way, and
he fell at the feet Of the sentry-stone
dead. His neck was broken.
: Macairc had Just reached the ridge
the roof when the gendarme, who, quick.
~ realizing what had happened, bound
ed to the center of the courtyard, and
looking up caught sight of the half
kneeling figure Of Macaire in full relief
against the sky. He knew what his or
ders were, and leveling his gun he fred.
The figure on the roof threw up Its
arms, tottered. fell, and rolling over and
over down tho sloping roof and bound
ing over the low parapet fell with q
thud, and Robert Macaire lay dead be
side the wretched partner of his crimes
1t was long before tho horror of thai
day somewhat faded from the hearts of