The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-19

therefore afforded him the best chance,
and there sim remained to him fair
chance of escape IL the number OF guards
below had not been increased. He had
seen but two, one of them was even now
at the window sill, and II he was once
disposed Of there remained but one 70 deal
with when he reached the ground. Pur-
posely therefore he had left the catch on
the window unfastened and he heard the
man whistle with satisfaction as he IN
serted the edge Of his poignard between
the window and the ieaden framework
and found ii open without difficulty.
Meantime the Comte had risen from his
seat and glided In the dark around by the
wall to the window, hoping to strike
down at a single blow the soldier so soon
as his head and shoulders appeared WITHIN
the room. Could he but do that noiselessly
and drag the body within there was hope
that his comrade below would not scent
the danger.
to protect himself at the doorway, the
comte sat down and waited, not know
ing when the attack would be made, but
with very little hope that he would be
permitted to pass the night without mo-
lestation. He decided that he would not
attempt to slip away until some clear
sign of danger had been given, and in
deed, there was but small chance OF his
getting away unperceived for, on open
ing the window quietly, he saw two sol
diers standing on guard beneath his win
dow, and there were still lights showing
in the stable where the men were be-
ing quartered for the night. Even though
he succeeded in killing the two men be-
meath him, the noise would assuredly
arouse their comrades, and he would still
be undone. Every now and then he heard
voices in the room below. and the heayy
stamp of feet on the tagged floor OF the
public room, and as II was early when
he had retired to hts room on the plea OF
WEAKNESS, he resigned himself to many
hours Of anxious watching, which was
the harder to be borne because of his
bodily fatigue. But the momentary antdc-
ipation Of treacherous assault sharpens
"a NJ
away the desire for sleep. So he sat him
self down In a chair near the door, after
having carefully drawn the curtains Of
i1ls bed, so that II any one clamoered
up to the window he would imagine that
ne was asleep and would fall an easy
prey to his aSSailants. Nothing happen
ed, however, to disturb him. and he began
to Judge IL was close upon midnight, when
he was suddenly aware of shadow fall
ing across the window, and he saw that
one Of the soldiers had climbed up from
the outside and was peering into the
room. Almost at the same moment his
ears caught the sound or footsteps IN
the passage and the voices OF men.
" The window opened outward, and that
gave the conte a few seconds extra time,
for the soldier had to bend down While he
passed the window above his body and by
that time the comte was ready wltn ms
poniard in his hand to deal him blow
that should silence him forever. matters
could not have fallen out more 70 MS de-
sire. For no sooner had tne solulsr gam
about 10 raise himself into the room than
his foot slipped. and he fell heavily with
lis middle across the sill To strike him
4 blow that penetrated through his leath-
erin Jacket to his heart was put q Sec
ond's work. and almost before he could
utter a groan the comte had dragged him
through into the room. But the noise Of
III fail and the clank Of his helmet and
arms upon the floor was heard by those
vgho were attempting the door, and, guess
ing that something was wrong, they cast
IN All attempt al concealmenf, and vio-
lrntly assailed the door. II gave way be-
fore their determined efforts, and down