Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-29

Oh, what can do? What can ! doT
Desmond put his hand gently upon
her shoulder.
"Dear Miss Hilmnr. there is always
nope While he Is nlive. Don't despair.
Your cousin doesn't know there are
two Of us lowering round to find every
loophole Of escape. The only guard
Will be from the inside. We have ev-
cry chance for rescue"
She dried her eyes and looked up at
him with a gratitude shining In her
face that sent his pulses dancing.
you shame me-" she answered.
Just when l should be strong to plan
for father ] break down and whine
like beaten puppy. You are wound
ed and have nothing to save but your
own life, and ye. you are willing to
risk 1t for us, whom you have only
known for week or two"
It's Just because want the ac-
Quaintance to last Il lifetime" said
Desmond, with n tender look In his
brave eyes. and for the second time
that morning Hllmar blushed delight.
fully beneath her undried tears.
1t was by devious ways and the
darkest recesses Of the forest that old
Stefan took them that evening till from
among the belt of laurels that fringcd
the castle garden they looked upon
the prison house that held their
friends. The castle and all the out
buildings lay In the form of square
upon an island clrcled by an irregular
moat. The river made bend almost
at right angles and looped itself about
on acre of grass land. channel cut
across the narrowest diameter of the
promontory made the water defenses
entire. On tho far sides of the stream
were walls both brond and high. The
only entrance was by n drawbridge
and beneath an arch. Along the wall
head the clank of weapons was to be
heard, showing that beneath them
sentries strobe. 1t was fortress
seemingly impresnable.
"'Tis tho eastern wing that holds
the great barn, and there they are be-
slowed" scld Stefan sadly Nothing
hut artillery could pierce those walls"
Hilmar stared at the gray stones
hopelessly, her gaze finally wandering
10 Desmond's face with glance of
despairing appeal. He was gnawing
his mustache as he silently ruminated
on the situation. Then he broke out:
"One Of the worst difficulties to me
is the getting away. If we did manage
to release them. there is still the guard
on the yacht. They'll have to bring
out your father and the rest to get
them down to Osbrog. We might man
age something on the way, but without
the yacht to get OFF in what could we
do?'
Hilmar translated to old Stefan.
= ''That's no great difficulty" said he.
''If the captain of noble birth can ex.
tract them from these walls, will
charge them myself with the guard on
the yacht. There are hut half dozen
OF them" he added contcmptuously.
"Eow?" cried Hii.ar. Your
"Yes." answered the old man meekly,
"but TINT you shall see when the time
comes. Tho first question is the seal.
Ing Of these walls"
Desmond was still! staring at the
walls that stood out In such uncom-
promising grimness across the sheen
of moonllt water. Unconsclously he
gnawed at his fingers, thinking, plan
ming, rejecting desperate proposal after
proposal a. they formed in his BRAIN
Suddenly at the far corner of the
building his gaze strayed and fixed it.
self Still gnashng at his knuckles,
he looked and looked, working and
turning over his new formed idea. He
turned TO his companions.
THAT group Of poplars there-is that
opposite the barn.
"Yes," said Stefan YEARLY "'Tis
almost exactly opposite. But there
the stream is deepest though not so
wide
Can we get into the clump without
being SEEM"
"Assurediy. None knows of our
presence. We are not expected"
Come, then. l begin to see light"
The three wocmed and scuiiied
through the thick underscruh OF laurel
and rhododendron and by slow degrees
and with immense caution reached nj
last the waters edge beneath the tall
| treeS NNOsc DTu.lGutS slOl out ucTOsS
the stream Here they halted. and
Desmond scanned the distance with
his eye.
"IIow do they get light and air into
the barn?" he asked the old jaeger
"Wherc are the windowsT"
"There at the edge of the roof, one
of noble birth! Look at the eaves
against the sky, and you will see the
bars stick out in places"
Desmond slapped his leg joyfully
"By gum" he whispered, II think
have it. What sort of place is 1t in.
side?"
"a jolly old, smooth paved. empty
room at this time of year" said Hill
mar. II well remember playing there
when l was tiny child, The walls
run up to the two windows Stefan
speaks Of. The rafters are bare. There
is'no ceiling, only heavy slabs of stone
upon strong beams.'
whats to prevent our fellows
climbing up and working through
thenY demanded Desmond.
"You forget, excellency. They are
bound. The walls are smooth. The
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