Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07

a. 0
a girl ran across the glade and sank to
her knees beside DeSmond'S body
hope while he is alive. 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 a 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 | should be strong TO plan
for father | break down and whine
like beaten puppy. You are wound
cd and have nothing to save but your
own life, and yet you are willing to
risk it for u.s. whom you have only
known for week or two"
It's just because l want the &C.
quaintance to last a lifetime" said
Desmond, with tender look in his
brave eyes, and for the second time
that morning Hilmar blushed delight.
fully beneath her undried tears.
1t was by devious ways and the
darkest recpsses Of the forest that old
Stefan took them that evening till from
among the belt of laurels that frnged
TIE 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 circled by an irregular
moat. The river made a 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 the far sides of the stream
were walls both broad and high. The
only entrance was by a 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 a fortress
seemingly impregnable.
It's the eastern wing that holds
the great barn, and there they are be-
slowed said Stefan sadly. Nothing
but artillery could pierce those walls
Hilmar stared at the gray stones
hopelessly. her gaze finally wandering
10 Desmond's face with a 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, I will
charge them myself with the guard on
the yacht. There are but a half dozen
of them" he added contemptuously.
Howl cried Hlmar. You"
Yes" answered the old man meekly,
"but that you shall see when the time
comes. The first question is the seal
ing of these walls"
Desmond was still staring at the
walls that stood out In such uncom-
promising grmness across the sheen
of moonlt water. Unconsciously he
gnawed at his fingers, thinking, plan
ming, rejecting desperate proposal after
proposal as they formed in his brain.
Suddenly at the far corner of the
building his gaze strayed and fixed IL
self. Stll crashing 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's thar
opposite the barn."
YES" said Stefan YEARLY. IT'S
almost exactly opposite. But there
the stream is deepest, though not SO
wide"
Can we get into the clump without
being seem
"Assuredly. None knows of our
presence. We are not expected"
Come. then. l begin TO see light"
The three wormed and scutflei
through the thick underscrub of laurel
and rhododendrOn and by slow degrees
and with immense caution reached at
last the waters edge beneath the tall
trees whose branches shot out across
the stream. Here they halted, and
. desmond scanned the distance WIFI
his eye.
How do they get light and air into
the barn" he asked the old jaeger.
Where are the windows?'
There, At the edge of the roof, one
Of noble birth! Look at the caves
against the sky, and you will see tho
bars stick ont in places"
Desmond slapped his leg joyfully
by gum" he whispered Il think I
have it. What sort Of place is it in
! side?"
"A jolly, old, smooth paved, empty
room at this time of year" said Hill
mar. Il 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
them" demanded Desmond.
"iou forget, excellency, They are
bound. The walls are smooth. The
windows are heavily barred"
"Humph! Then what il wants is
Ell; ~.