Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-07-25
(Continued.)
CHAPTER XXX

OF Pantin at mis- elbow, ana clOse
hind the stern features OF the srauu
master. the anxiety on whose Iace
cleared as he saw the king DeIOIS I4ul.
He was about to speak, Dut heHIy
burst in rapidly:
II know all, duke. II is time 70 ee',
not talk. Arnidieu! But l shall long
remember this froltc.
III would seem that God has given
US a great deliverance, sire. All -
ready. came but TO see tnat your
majesty was safe and unharme9 anu 4
10 leave Du Prashn with suhclene
GUARD for your person whilst We tooA
our prisoners. -.
AS Suly spoke the king threw MS
rooueIaure over his arm and answered /
coldly: Monsieur, you are very soou. .
When / want a guard l shall ask Ior +
one. have vet to learn that Henri de 7.
Bourbon is TO Turk in corner whist .
bsws are going. and l shall lead the
assault myself 49,.
land the first shot from a window
Ated bv some croquemOrt might
leave France at the feet of Spain,
chr in buntly, whilst De Nitry stamp
"a his foot with vexatiOn, and the
fbrebead of the grand master wrinkied
And furrowed, though he gave me an
approving look from under MS Shaggy
brOws.
For a moment it was as II my words
would have stayed the king. lie look
Ell az me fxedly and STABBED at the
ca..,.s. s1tL the point Of his blade, re
NJ 10 himself, AT the feet OF
SoAin-Spainl Neyerii" he added, re-
covering himself and looking highly
around. "Ne7er-messieurs, we shalI
ali vet see the lilies Haunting over the
Escurlal.'
"Amen." exclaimed voice from the
darkness of the stairway, and heard
the grinding of a spurred heel on the
woodwork of the floor
Come" said the king, I'VE have no
time to lose, and If we delay longer
that hOthead De Belin will strike the
first blow
with your majesty's permission,
will make an assault on the rear l
said. 'On the rear" exclaimed DE
Vitry. whilst the grand master said:
cit is impossible"
But l only pointed to the window
and Henry laughed.
''Ventrebleui l understands great
idea! But. monsieur, take care how
Won give away a secret. / shall have
no peace If mOnsiegneur the grand
master hears what has happened.
I was young enough still to feel my
face grow hot at the approval In the
kings voice, and then without an
ether word they passed out, tramp,
tramp. down the stairs, all except Sui
ly. who stayed behind for moment
Monsieur" he asked, what mas
happened between you and the king?
''His majesty has pardoned me.
a child might see that what
else? Be quick"
/ And he has given me orders to meet
uowH0Nb u enter the Toison dor
won a faithful and discreet
Make your attack when you
e petard." Then he, too turn
arOad shoulders on me and fol-
rest.
sound Of the heavy footballs
gave last look at my pistols,
my sword belt by a hole, and,
i as | was, essayed the ladder
The practice 1 had with it
ascent easy now, and per-
as this that rendered me care
as / was climbing my foot
and as l stopped for a moment
leg over the parapet and the
railing over the drop behind, 1
"a quick What is that?" through
pen skylight. The voice was the
shars, and l almost felt l could see
lis nervous start and rapid upward
glance as the scrabbling noise reached
his ears. Then came Ladns answer
H.. Thor 70
so far.
"A cat-ouly a cat, monseigneur.
All was still again, and l crept softly
tc the opening. l did not dare look in,
but crOUched beneath the skylight
waiting for the signal. / already OBJ
served that the skylight was but a
light wooden framework, with a glaz-
ing between, and would need no great
effort to break dOwn-One strong push
and the way was clear before me. So
/ 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.
1 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 rooms below as
well. reducing it on a sudden to abSO-
lutte darkness. There was a yell of ter
ror from the room, and without a mo-
ment's hesitation l 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. / followed the rush |
OF hurrying fgudes as thep passed /
through the door into passage in dim /
light from a fire that burned in a small /
crate. One end of the paSsag, 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 we're 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 4
feures turned and called out; Quick, /
monseigneur - follow me the secret
stairl
II was Lain. In the confusion and |
ssmi-gloOm he had mistaken me for his 7
chief. made no answer; but as I /
rushed forward. struck him on the face
with the hilt OF my sword, and he rolled
over like log.
-rt-ro T was riebt in amongst tbe