The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-05-25

of rope lying in a corner and covered
with dust.
"What is that2" inquired, touching
it with the point of my sword.
The man stopped without a word,
and picking it up, busted it carefully.
then he unrolled "a ladder of silken cord,
about IL or Is feet in length.
"This, captain" he said, swinging it
backward and forward, belonged not
so long ago TO NJ. de Bellievre, though
you may not believe me"
81 have no doubt you are speaking
the truth, but seems rather weak"
"On the contrary, monsieur, will you
test il and see?"
We managed to do this by means of
two hooks that were slung from a beam
above us, in a manner to satisfy me
that the ladder was sufficient TO bear
double my weight; and then, as If con-
tent with this, l flung it aside.
"Will not monsieur take it?" asked
the man; 'it is cheap"
at is good enough l answered, "if l
had business on hand; but at present
| am waiting"
IF monsieur has leisure | might be
able to give him hint that would be
worth something in crowns"
II am lazy when in luck, compere.
No, will not take the ladder"
"It may come in useful, though, and
will occupy but a small space in mon
sieur's rooms;" and, seeing that j APP
peared to waver, shall take it up? /
will let it go for ten crowns"
Five crowns or nothing" | said,
firmly.
"But il is Of the finest silk"
81 do not want to buy. You can take
my price or leave it,"
"Very well, then, monsieur, thanks,
and / will take it up myself"
"You 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 to the turret, There / spent
a good hour or so in reeNamining it, and
splicing one or two parts that seemed
a trifle weak, at the same time keeping
a wary eye on who passed and repassed
the street, without, however, discover
Finally the woman brought up my din
ner, and managed to eat after fash
| ion, but made more play with the
Beaugency, which was mild and of a
| 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 manner that no one
| could effect an entrance, except by
bursting the lock. This being done /
removed my boots, and unslung my
sword, keeping my pistols, however, in
| my belt, and after good look round to
see that no one was observing me, man
aged to loop the ladder round the
| gargoyle, and then tested it once more
with long pull. The silk held well
! enough, but the stonework of the gar
goyle gave and fell with heavy crash
| into the fosse below. 1t was narrow
business, and it was well had tried the
strength of the cord again. looked
out from the window cautiously to see
| IL the noise had attracted any atten-
| ton, and found, TO my satisfaction, that
it had not. After allowing a little time
to elapse, so as to be on the safe side
I attempted to throw the looped end
I had made to the ladder, so that il
two embrasures, but discovered, aft
er half a dozen casts, that this was not
feasible from where | stood. Then
bethought me of my boyhood's train
ing amongst the cliffs that overhung
the bay of Auriac, and, stepping out
on to the ledge of the window, 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 l put
my foot on the rungs and in minute
more was lying on my face behind the
parapet, and thanking God had made
the effort, for before me was large
skylight, half open, from which | could
command view OF the interior of one
room at least of the Toison dor, ant
by which it might be possible to eff
feet an easy entrance. Before going
any further, however, / glanced rounC
me to see how the land lay and was de
lighted to find that l could not be oh
served from the opposite side of th'
street, as the portion of the house
was on was concealed from view by th'
gabled roof, that rose about ten fee
from me, leaving me in a sort of long bal
cony. Now that I think of it this roo
must have been an afterthought on th'
part of the builders. Then was but TOT
thankful to find ii existed, and had NJ
time for reflections. BY turning m!
head l could see, too, that the higl
wall that shut in the mouth of the pas
sage was evidently raised as barrie
between the street and the fosse whicl
took bend and ran Immediately be
low the wall. After lying perfect.
still for little, slowly pushed mysel
forward until at last | was beneath tn
skylight, and then raising myself eau
tiously | peeped in.
| m