Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-22
77r fEYALIER D'AURIAC
s. LEMETT YEETS
Copyright 1897 By 1ongman., Green, & Co.
.ruApTEp 'XVITT-(Continuedl

CHAPTER -(COntinued)
ID struck me as a little odd that she
should have cone up in this aimless
manner: but relecting that perhaps
after an il was due TO nothing more
than a desire to crafty feminine Curl
osity by spying what l was about l
dismissed the mat2/
After allowing a vttle time to elapse
1 descended TO the shop and began
carelessly running my eyes over the
miscellaneous collection OF arccles
therein. The fence followed me about,
now recommending this thing and now
that. At last / saw what looked 70 De
a ball of rope lying in corner ana
covered with dust.
what is that?" l inquired, touching
1t with the point Of my sword
The man stopped without a word,
and picking it up, busted it carefully,
then he .unrOlled a ladder OF Slken
cord. about II or Is feet in length.
"This, captain" he said, swinging 1t
backward and forward belonged not
so long ago TO NJ. le Bellieyre, though
you may not believe me"
Il have no doubt yOu are speaking
the truth. but it seems rather weak.
y
you test it and see?"
We managed to do this by means of
two hooks that were slung from the
beam above MS. in a manner to satisfy
me that the ladder was sufficient 10
bear double my weight; and then, as
if content with this, flung IL aside.
"Will not monsieur take II! aSAeu
the man; 1t is cheap.
1T is good enough" 1 answered, II
I had a business on hand; but at pres
ent / am waiting"
"If monsieur has leisure / might be
able TO give him, a mint that would
be worth something In crowns.
II am lazy when in luck, compere'
No. 1 will not take the ladder.
1T may. cQWe in useful though, ana
win occupy bun a small space IN mon
sieur's fOoms;7 and seeing that ap-
pepyed to waver; shall / take IT up!
I win let is go for 10 crowns.
Five crowns or nothing, 1 SAID
FIRMLY
But it is of the finest silk"
Il do not want to buy. You can
take my price or leave it."
Very well, then, monsieur, thanks
and / will take il up myself.
'You need not trouble; I am going
up, and will take it with me.
With these words took the ladder
folded in long loops in my hands and
went back TO the turret, There i spent
a good hour or so in re-eXamining IT.
and splicing one or two parts that
seemed trifie weak, at the same
time keeping a wary eye on who pass
- and repassed the street, without
-. discovering anything to at
Tor
with
fastened in such a
kanner one could effect an en-
rance. Fby bursting the lock
8rhis bt yne, I removed my boots
dnd uns SAlyE my sword. keeping my pis-
tolls. hrwever, in my belt and after
good hok around 10 see that no one
was Asserting me- managed to loop
the I4lder round the gargOyle, and
then tested it once more with a long
pulI. fThe silk held well enough, but
the stonewOrk of the gargOyle gave
way and fell with a heavy crash into
the fosse below. 1t was a narrow bus
mess and it was well had tried the
strength of the cord again. i looked
out from the window cautiously to see
If the noise had attracted any atten-
ton. and found, to my satisfaction,
that il had not.
After allowing a little time to elapse,
so as 20 be on the safe side, / attempted
I=tc throw the Topped end 1 had made TO
|, the ladder so that it might fall over the
lparapet. between embrasures, but dis
covered. after half dozen casts, that
this was not feasible from where l
stood. Then / bethOught me of my boy
hoods training amonst the cliffs that
overhung the bay OF Auriac, and, STEP
ming out to the ledge of the window,
managed. with an fort, to hold on 20
the stump of the garOyle with one hand,
and balancing myself carefully. for a
slip meant instant death, flung the loop
once more. and had the satisfaction OF
seeing il fall the way I desired. With
ont another further hesitation I put my
foot on the rungs and in a minute more
was lying on my face behind the para
bet. and thanking God had made the
effort. for before me was a large sky