The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-02

| lNIO THE WE'LL.
Roi listened for one long instant-and
then, reeling, staggering toward the
well, he clutched the rope and began to
descend.
when you come to the tunnel, kick
against the wall and that will swing
you in" cried the masked man, bending
over to watch him; "leave the lantern
until I follow"
"You 7eiil find my body" howled the
robbe- from the darkness.
Lowering himself hand under hand
Cog lie Roi went down into the well.
The unknown waited until he had
reached the light and had entered the
dark hole above the water. Then he.
LOO, clutched the rope, but he could
not keep back the laugh from his lips.
"Sang-bleu. Sartines," said he to him
self. "a merry night to you and mer-
ricr day tomorrow. To be fooled by
woman at your time of fifr. On, you
amuse us finely"
"Are you coming monsieur" roared
Coo lie Roi from below: "oh. for PHYS
sake be quick"
The unknown hesitatcd no longer,
but swung himself cleveriy upon the
rope and. so disappeared into the dark
ness of the well.
Five minutes later terrible cry, like
n cry of victory, arose suddenly from
the ranks of the sweltering mob gath
cred in the narrow alley before the
house of the Red Cock. From lane to
lane. and stree. TO street, IL spread, un-
I'll IL was echoed in long drawn hootng,
even across the freiting waters of tho
Seine.
"Coq lie Roi has escaped! Hola!
Hola! Hola! Coo le Roi is free. Long
life 10 the Little Red Man. Vival Down
with the guard. A bas Sartnes. Holal
IIola!"
Loud. terrible. long sustained was the
cry. Exhilarafed by the unexpected
tidings, spurred to new courage by the
joyous news. the mob fell upon the
sulking troopers with any weapon that
came to its hand; and in the sitting
courts and alleys there were soon TO be |
heard the shrieks OF dying men, tho
booming OF muskets. the shriller wall
ing of the women. II was not until dawn
broke that the beggars began 70 num-
Der their dead and 20 forget that Coo le
Isoi was free.
Nj. de Sartines had supped well, as
nc always did, at the Hotel Beautre-
Ills. Though he declared that the
gloomy old house in the Rue ST. Paul
Vas more forbidding than the Bastile.
where its exterior was concerned. there
vas no one reader 10 admit that Mile.
.orinne de Montesson. its mistress. was
he cleverest woman in Paris, and the
most fascinating. Besides, was she
lot the particular patron Of all the
ogues and vagnbonds in the thieves
luarter, and could she not, IL she would.
&c OF more service 10 the court in rcn-
raj. and TO himself, NJ. de Sartines In
than squadron Of drag
ons? IL was big "if." since mades
noiselle's charity and large-hcartcd-
css were traditions in the city: but the
lieutenant still hoped--and supped.
On this particular evening the cx-
client man bad much need of conso-
ition. and of the rich red wine which
cded the luster of the ruby 10 the
parking Venetian glass in which
iouane guests were always served.
or IL was the evening of the dny
men Coz le Roi had slipped through
- hngers n SO miraculous mnnnrr,
nu' 10 escaping. Ind set the whole city
.uSn'ng at her lieutenant OF police.
OF had the good Sariincs secured M
'n' ''inc the reputation which. In after
cars brought him fame -heTefd the
Ine OF any who had occupied the {
rec winch he gloriiied. lie had set
prove himself; and in proving him.
~ no had begun with this disastrous
pa long-cmcmbered fnsco. !
neFresseh by The reflection. gloomy.
ID not a l.iilc irritable. ne had r,oue !,
MllQ na Mnns...z..s- A 4