The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-12-20


With some difficulty they managed to
get coherent explanation from him,
having heard which NJ. Dumont sent
Charles at once in search of Roger They
returned together Immediately, and the
brigadier, having heard Pierre's story as
to where he had found the key, declared
he would at once have Macaire and
Strop searched to see if they had any Of
the stolen money upon them.
After short absence he returned,
carrying the stolen notes. Charles on
seeing thifVproof of his mothers inno-
cence wast b much overcome to speak
and turned. b clasp her in his arms, but
she had tainted The shock of this sud
den relief from the terrible accusation
which had been hanging over her had
been too much for her overweight
nerves. She soon 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 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
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 81
lence to be searched by the gendarmes
and had not answered so much as by
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 i'm
ploring mercy in the most abject terms.
But there was a movement i'll the long,
sinewy fingers and a CLEAN in the evil
eye that would have BODIED 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
He knew very we'll 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 we'll on what er-
rand he was gone. He knew about how
long he would be gone. Once back all
chance of 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 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 if
we remain here is that we will die Oh
the guillotine. I for one prefer some
other way, so I'll try this chance. You
perhaps prefer to sit here like rat in
trap"
The thought of the guillotine gave
Ctron couraoe and he decided to follow