Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1899-05-04

with dust.
What is ,hat?" inquired. touching
il with the point of my sword.
The man stopped without word.
and picking it np, busted it carefully.
then he unrollcd ladder Of silkcn cora.
about II or II feet in length.
"rEis, captain" he said, swinging it
backward and forward. belonged not
SO long ago TO NJ. de Bcliie,rc, though
YOU MAY not believe me-
81 have no doubt YOU are speaking
the truth. but IL seems rather weak"
"On the contrary, monsieur, will ynp
test II and srr"'
We managed to do this 10y means 81
two hooks that were slurg from beam
above us, in II manner Ia satisfy mo
that the ladder was sufficient tn bear
double my weight; and then. as il con
tent with this, | lung il aside.
viii not monsieur take =" asked
the Innn: III is cheap"
ut is good enough" answered. III
had a business on hand: but AT present
am waiting"
IF monsieur has leisure might lie
able To give him a hint that would bs
worth something in crowu>."
Il am lazy when ia luck. c"mpere
No, will not take the ladder.
'It may com, in useful. though, and
will occup, hut a small space in mon
siedrs rooms" and. seeing that | ap
prared &" wa,cr. shall | take il up" d.
will let il go for ten crowns"
Five crowns or nothing" | said
firmly.
But il is of the finest silk"
Il do not want Ia buy. You can tab"
my price or leave it,"
VERY well, then, monsieur, thanhs,
and ! will take IL up myself.
"lou need not trouble. | am going
up, and will take il with me"
With these words took the Ladder,
folded in long loops in my hands and
went back Ia the turrct. There ! spent
n good hour or 80 in recNamininc il. and
splicing Que or tv" parts that seemed
a ,rifie weak. at the same time keeping
a wary eve On who pas scd and rcPasscd
the street. without, however, discover
ing any thing to attract attention.
Finally the woman brought up my din
ncr. and managed TO eat after fash
ion, but made more play with the
Beaugeucy. which was mild and of n
good vintage. When the table was
cleared sat still for about half an hour
or so. playing with my glass, and then
rising saw that my door was securely
fastened in such a manner that no one
could effect an entrance, except by
bursting the lock. This being done ]
removed nv boots. and unslung my
sword, keeping my pistols. however. in
my belt, and after good look round 10
see that no one was observing me. man.
aged to loop the ladder round the
gargoyle. and then tested il once ore
with a long pull. The silk held well
enough. hut the stonework of the gar
goyle gave and fell with n heavy crash
business, and it was well had tried the
strength Of the cord again. ! looked
ont from the window cautiously TO see
IL the noise had attracted any atten-
ton. and found, TO my satisfaction, that
il had not. After allowing a little time
10 elapse, SO as to he on the safe side,
I attempted 10 throw the looped end
I had made To the ladder. 50 that il
might fall over the parapet between
two embras ures, but discovered, aft
er half tluzen casts. that this WAS not
feasible from where ! stood. Then
bethought me of my boy hoods train
ing amongst the cliffs that ovcrhung
the bay Of Auriac, and. stepping out
onto the ledge of phe wiEdsw, man
aged, with an effort. To hold on To the
stump of the gargoyle with one hand,
and balancing myself carefully, for a
Slip meant instant death. flung the
loop once more. and had the satisfac-
ton of seeing it fall as desired.
Without any further hesitation ] put
my foot on the rugs and in a minute
more was lying on my face behind the
parapet. and thanking God had made
the effort, for before me was a large
skylight. half open. from which could
command view of the interior of one
room at least of the Toison dor, and
nv which it might he possible TO eff
feet an easy entrance. Before going
any further, however, ] glanced round
me 10 see how the land lay and was de
lighted 10 find that I could not I've oh
served from the opposite side Of the
street. as the portion of the house
was on was concealed from view by the
| gabled roof. that rose about ten feet
from me. leaving me in a sort of long bal
cony. Now that | think Of il this ROOT
must have been an aftcrthought on the
| part of the builders. Then was but toe
/ thankful 10 find il existed. and had No
time for reflections. by turning nay
head | could see. too. that the high
wall that shut in the mouth of the pas.
sage was evidently raised rs n barrie,
between the street and the fosse which
took bend and ran Immediately be
low the wall. After lying perfectly
still for little. slowly pushed myself
forward until at last ! was beneath tn,
skylighi. and then raising myself eau
tiousi. ] peeped in.
FRO BE Continued