The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-14

the ascent easy now, and perhaps it
was this that rendered me careless, for
as 1 was climbing. my foot slipped
with grating noise, and as 1 stopped
for a moment with one leg over the
parapet and the other trailing over
the drop behind, I heard quick What
is that?" through the open skylight.
The voice was the marshal's, and
almost felt that I could see his nervous
start and rapid upward glance as the
scrabbling noise reached his ears. Then
came Ladn's answer in those cool tones
that can penetrate sc. far:
"a cat-only a cat, monseigneur."
All was still again, and | crept softly
to the opening. 1 did not dare look in,
but crouched beneath the skylight
waiting for the signal. 1 had already
observed that the skylight was but a
light wooden framework, with a glaZ-
imp between, and would need no great
effort to break doWn-one strong push
and the way was clear before me. So
I stayed for a minute of breathless
silence, then far below came a sharp,
shrill whistle, hurried EXPLANATIONS
from the plotters, and now the explo-
sion Of the petard, that made the house
rock to and fro like a tree in the wind.
had no need to force open the sky
light The effect of the explosion did
that most effectually for me, and blew
out the lamps in the room below as
we'll, reducing it on ay}sudden to abso-
lutte darkness. There was a veil of
terror from the roonas and without q
moments hesitation Fl swung through
the window and dropped down among
the conspirators. They were to a man
crowding to the door, and not one took
any note of my entrance, so great was
their confusion. l followed the rush Of
hurrying figures as they passed
through the door into = a passage in
dim light from fire that burned in Il
small CRATE. One end Of this passage
was full of smoke, against which the
bright flashes of drawn swords were
as darts of lightning Beyond the
smoke, and below. we, could hear the
clash of steel, cries of pain and savage
oathS, where men were fighting and
dying hard. AS I dashed down the
passage, sword in hand, my Only
thought to reach the prisoners room,
one Of the retreating figures turned and
low me-the secret STARR
1t was Lain. In the confusion and
semi gloom he had mistaken me for his
chief. I made no answer; but as I
rushed forward, struck him on the face
with the hilt Of my sword, and he roll
ed over like a log.
There I was. right in amongst the
scared plotters, cheek by jowl with
NJ. de Sayoye's envoy, and 1 could have
dropped him then and there, but that
my Whole heart was in madame's room.
and [ knew that there were others who
could and would deal with him.
AS 1 elbowed my way through the
press, vainly endeavoring to find the
way to my dear's prison, we reached
landing from which a long stair led
straight up, and here I heard the mar
shaPs voice, cracked with rage and
fear.
Lain! De Gomeron! To me-here!
hereW
Ladies first, marshall must look to
my BRIDE
Gomeron's tall figure mounting the
STAIR and 1 rushed forward to follow
him.
1t was at this juncture that portion
of our own party forced their way to
the landing, and one of them, whose
sword was broken, flung himself upon
me, dagger in hand, shouting, death
to traitors" I had just time to seize
his wrist. He tripped sideways oyer
something that lay very quiet at our
feet. and, dragging me down, we
of blades over Us. "It is fool,
d 'Auriac-let go!" 1 shouted, as he
tried to stab at me.
Let so. you" sputtered d'Aubus-
sons voice, and we loosed each other.
l had no time for another word, and,
grasping my sword, which was hang
ing to my wrist by the knot, 1 sprang
up, and the next moment was hot-foot
after De Gomeron. - =.
Il L. u-g. r
through the crowd, but the stairway
was half full of men, and at the head
of it stod the free lance with a red
sword in his hand, and two or three
huddled objects that lay in shapeless
masses around him.
Some one, with a reckless indiffer-
ence to his own Hfe-it, was. 1 after
ward found out, Pantin-held up
torch, and, as the flare. of it shot up
the stairway, De Gomeren threw back
his head and laughed at us.
Twenty to one-come, gentlemen
or must 1 come to you?" He took
couple of steps down the stairs, and
the crowd that had made as if it would
rush at him wavered and fell back,
bearing me, hoarse for shouting for
way, with them to the landing.
For the moment, penned up and ut
terly unable to get forward, l was
a mere spectator OF what followed.
The free lance took one more down.
ward step, and then slight figure,
with one arm in a sling, slid out from
the press and flew at him.
1t was d'Ayen, and 1 felt sudden
warming Of the heart to the man who
was going to his death.
"You-you traitor" he gasped, as US
ing his sword with his left hand his
point ripped the free lance's ruff.
STAND back, old fool-stand back
or-there! Take it." and with sharp
scream d'Ayen fell backward, the
crowd splitting for a moment, so that
he rolled to the foot of the stairs and
came up at my feet. God rest his souli
He died at the last like a gallant man.
They were backing in confusion now,
and above the din I could hear the
hooking voice of De Gomeron.
Come. gentlemen, dosnot delay time
presses"
One rush through at that time might
have saved him, but he stood there
playing with death. s With an effort
pushed d'Ayen, whonwas still breath
ing, against the side9of the wall, to let
the poor wretch die in such comfort
as could be, and. seeing my chance at
last, made my way to the front.
De Gomeron was half way down the
stairs by this, and, gwhen our swords
met, he did not for the moment recog-
nize me. But at the second pass he