The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-06-26

raise my voice. Every moment was
precious, and with Il groan l glanced
about for some means OF ascent, and as
l did so Pompon began to Chamber up
the groovcd brick waterway. which ter
minated on narrow ledge of orna-
mental stOncwork running round the
house Above this ledge, however q
gargoyle In the shape of Il grittin's head
leered down at me.
a sudden thought struck me, and l
seized the ape ere he could go farther.
Back l ran, with the quick, stcalthy
footsteps Of II cat, and dropped down
into the stable once more. Hastily and
with shaking hands, | examined the
stable gear, throwing one thing after
another aside, and at last found what
] sought-a spare halter. oh, those
seconds when l fumblcd there IN the
| stable! They were rs hours. | snatch
| ed up the halter with an exclamation
| Of JOY and In less time than | take to
| tell this was once more beneath the
| window. Here 1t was Pompon's turn,
| and l thanked my stars again and
! again for the months | had spent In
teaching the ape to do almost anything
I wished. l knottcd one end OF the hal
ter into n moose and, giving 1t to Pom
pom, placed him where he had climbed
to at first and, with little wave of
my hand. said: "Up, Pompon! Up!"
Without n moments hesitation he
climbed to the ledge. watched the
small black figure looking down on me
with little, twinkling eyes, the halter,
held by the moose, in his hands.
made motion of my hand toward the
gargoyle, but the ape only jibbcrcd.
and the cold sweat burst over me, for
was sure l heard in the distance the
sound of many horses trotting. Too
intc! After all this! 1t could not be!
Again and again | tried to make the
apo understand, but he either could
not or would not In despair | at last
seized the end of the halter near me
and loopcd 1t round my own neck. And
imagine my utter disgust Pompon did
the same and bobbed up and down on
his hind legs! One might have laughed
If the issue ut stake was not 50 serious.
l took the loop off my neck. Pompon
again followed my example, and then
1t may have been Gods mcrcy-hc sud
denly understood and slipped 1t over
the gargoylc.
"Thank God!' And had tightcncd
the moose In n moment, giving the ape
no time to change his mind and remove
II. In those days l was 1.-the and agile
as n cat, and hand over hand swarm
cd up the rope, ut last gaining the mar
row foothold of the ledge. The win
dow was at least six feet from me, and
l had to cross this space ere l came
to 1t.
Holding on to the brickwork, | slip
ped the moose from the grilin's head
md then slowly and carefully made
my pcrilous way to the window, the
rope clutchcd In one hand and getting
rs much support as / could from the
cracks between the bricks, where the
cement had looscncd and fallen away.
When, aftcrwnrd, looked ut what
had done, my blood ran cold Mt the very
idea OF it, but now went without fear
without a single thought OF anything
: but those whom l was striving to save
: And, yes, those whose horses | had
hcard-l heard them again now clcnl
and distinct. l was not moment toe
, soon. l boldly stood OH the ledge and
looked in Mt the window. 1t was Il
: large room, and she, my queen, was
, sitting at the table Her hood had fall
en- back, showing the pale, clear cut
| outlines of her face, and her eyes wcr,
! full of tears. Condc stood by her
t speaking carr estly, pleading rs If FOL
his life, and If ever there was love IL
mans face 1t Shone on his. Oh, Il
was n mad thing to do, but she was
child. not 1S, and he but five and twcn
, ty.
So earnestly We're they talking tina
they did not hear me, though STOOD
boldly at the window. and it was onl!
!. when | had sprung lightly into tn,
room that they became aware OF IN!
presence. Mary rose to her feet with ,
cry, and her hands went up to her face
but Condo sprang at me without ,
WORD. L seized his wrists like Wis,
and said In n voice cracked with emo
ton:
You are betrayed! There is only ont
chance-comc with mc!'
The fool struggled still, and, prince OF
the blood though he was, cursed hin
to his face
"'tll you lose all? Harkw And the
Di"'" OF trumpet from the street came
to us with discordant echoes.
lie understood now. but his presence
; Of mind had left him.
; MY God" he cried. What can dc
to save you" And he turned to Mary
10 give him his due, he thought but of
her, and he rushed To her side, where
: she stood staring at us, with II white
race ana large, frightened eyes
The door OF the room was oDcn. AS
ran to 1t heard n batterng below.
} "Tls the king" cried. Quick,
TO the window"
Ills senses were coming back to him.
ana he half dragged and half carried
Mary to the window | closed and
locked the heavy onkcn door ani, turn
ing, saw Conde handl Ing the rope had
thrown on the floor at my entrance. He
had Rraspcd Mt the chance OF cgcopr
But would take no risk OF failure.
was by his side In II moment ana
snatchcd the halter from his hands.
"Put out tie ligh9" | said, and rs h,
dld so ran moose round the pillar of
the balustradc across the window ma
dropped the rope outside. Then. turn.
Ing to Condo. J said, Descend and hold
the rope taut b0low" The words were
scarce out Of my mouth when we heard
the dull report Of an nrGuebus.
They have blown In the lock!