Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1899-04-13

woke singing with pain, and found this
was due 10 my being bound as | was,
and in a little the agony became al
most insuppor;able, and | WAS ON the
verge of going into dclirium, only
righting my failing senses 10y mighty
effort of will.
l had lost all count Of the time. hut
guessed il MAS advanced in the day 10y
this; and my eyes had become sn ac-
customed To the darkness that | could
manage to see the faint outlines of the
cell in which was imprisoned. |
tried 10 make out its extent with an idle
and useless curiosity. and then, giving il
up, and utterly hopeless, leaned my
head ON my appraised knees, and sat thus
waiting for the end.
I lonscd for death Ia come now--it
would he a happy release from my pain.
Suddenly there came a grating noise
| as the bolts outside We're moved. Then
| the door of the cell swung open with a
grooming, and there MAS binding
flash of light that, for the time being.
deprived me of the powers of sight.
though, with a natural instinct, shut
my eyes 10 the flash ~ il came.
Then heard de Gomeron's voice say
ing: Remove the gag-l have some
thing to ask monsieur"
As | felt two cold, hard hands FUN
| bling with the knots of the gag. | man
aged 10 open my eyes, though the light
still panied me. and SAW the tall figure
of the free lance. his drawn sword in his
| hand. standing in the open doorway,
and kneeling beside me Was Eahcltr.
The hag caught the loathiug in my
glance, and laughed Ia herself aS she
wrcnchcd at the knots. and de Com
rron. who was evidently in No mood 10
DELAY. hurried her efforts with sharp
Quick"
1T is DONE" she answered. and ros.
Ia her feet. swinging the silkcn bands
of the gag she held in her hand,
Then have the goodness to step back
whilst VI. dAuriac and discuss the pn-
sition"
Babctte did rs she was hidden, NUT
| icring something, and de Gomcron, al
,arcing a pace, addressed me:
Monsieur, | have come Ia make YOU
| an offer. and will no; waste words. |
am playing Ia win a desperate game,
| and shall not hesitate To play any card
10 win. Ny offer is this: ! ask YOU to
| sign a formal document. which ! shall
bring to You, holding me guiltlcSs Of
any design against either You or Nine.
| lie IN Bidache. In return will set You
free in ten days after Won sign this pa
per. During that time YOU must con
slider Yourself my prisoner: hut YOU
will he better lodged than now. should
YOU refuse Ia accept this offer there is
nothing left for me but Ia leave YOU here
| to die"
He spoke in slow. measured accents.
and the vault of the roof above me gave
back the mans words in a solemn echo.
The light of the lantern stretched in n
long. yellow shaft up the spiral stair
way I've, ond the door. aud half in this
| light and half in shadow stood the
witchlike figure of Babette. leaving a
| little forward. as if striving 10 catch
each word that was spoken.
In the silence that followed the free
lance's speech. | could almost hear the
blood throbbing in my temples; and for
the moment was deprived of all power
Of words. II was not from fear. nor
from any idea of accepting the offer.
but a thought had come To my mind. I
would oppose craft with craft. and meet
the fox in the skin of foN.
''Give me 81 hours To decide" 7 an
swered. "and free me from these cords.
I cannot think for the pain of them"
''Pardieu." lie laughed. The knots
have been we'll tied: but 81 hours is n
long time"
"lct you are willing 10 accommodate
me for ten days. better lodged. Nentre-
bleu. NJ. lie GomcTou. do you think
can scratch my way out of this?"
lie did not answer me. but stood for
awhile biting at the ends Of his thick
mustachc. Then he suddenly called To
Babette: Cut the cords"
She came forward and ubeyed. Words
cannot convey the sensation of relief