Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11

must have touched him on raw spot,
for he WINGED, and then tried to bluff
it of.
81 rather fancy Messrs. Kitwater and
Codd will have just such kindly things
to say concerning you In the future
As they do about mo now" he said, as
he moved toward the door. "And now
I wish you good-by. AS I leave Paris
almost immediately, I don't suppose I
shall have the pleasure Of seeing you
again. For your own sake I sh ould ad-
wise you to be quiet. might tell you
once for all that you can't get out.
The door is q stout one, and the win
dows are exceptionally well barred.
The men to whom I have assigned the
duty Of looking after you are in their
way honest, though . little rough.
Moreover, they are aware that their
own safety depends to very great
extent upon your not getting out. Be-
lieve me, IL you do not know already,
there is nothing like fear for making
good watchdog. Farewell, friend
Fairfax! You have been instrumental
in sending a good many men into dur
ance vile; you can tell me later how
you like being there yourself"
With that he went out, shutting the
door behind him. heard tSe key
turn in the lock, and a bolt shot at
top and bottom. thereupon went to
the window and examined it, only to
discover that it was made secure on
the outside by large iron bars. So far
as could see, there was no other way
of escape from the room.
Though I laid down on the bed did
not sleep; my Thoughts would not
permit Of that The face Of the wom-
an who had trusted me so profoundly
was before me continually, gazing at
me with sweet, rcproachful eyes. Oh!
what fool l had been to accept that
rascals invitation! The more /
thought of it, the angrier I became
with myself. Now, goodness only knew
how long should be confined in this
wretched place, and what would hap
pen during my absence from the
world!
At last the dawn broke, and with 1t
weird, sickly light penetrated the
room. / sprang from my bed and ap-
preached the window, only to find that
1t overlooked a small courtyard, the
latter being stone-fagged. and sur
rounded by high walls. I could see
that, even il l were able to squeeze
my way out between the bars, !
should be powerless to scale the walls
At rough guess these were at least
- feet high, and without foot
hold of any sort or description. This
being so, l was completely at the
mercy of the men in the house. In
deed, rat caught in trap was never
more firmly laid by the heels than l.
At about half-past seven o'clock a
small trap-door, which l had not no.
ticed near the ground and the main
door, was opened, and grimy hand
made its way in and placed upon the
floor a cup Of coffee and q roll. Then
1t was closed once more and made Sc.
cure. I drank the coffee and munched
the roll, and, il the truth must be
confessed, poor as they were, felt the
better for both.
AT midday bowl Of miserable soup
was handed in; darkness, however
had fallen some considerable time be.
fore could detect any sound in the
hall outside that might be taken to
mean the coming Of my evening meal
At last there was q clatt Of feet, the
bolts shot back, the key turned in the
lock, and the door opened. A man
carrying lantern entered, followed
by two others, and as the light fell
; upon his face I uttered cry of aston.
ishment, for he was none other than
my old friend Leglosse, while behind
him was the infallble Lepallard.
well, thank goodness we have
found you at last" cried Leglosse
"We have had such hunt for you as
man never dreamed of. l called at
your apartments late last night. hop
ing to see you, on important business
but you had not returned from a din.
ner to which you had been invited.
called again this morning, and was in.
formed by the concierge that they had
up to that moment, seen nothing OF
you. When the good Lepallard in.
formed me that you had left the res.
taurant in cab with NJ. Hayle, and
/, that the latter had returned to his
apartments this morning in a great
hurry, only to leave them short time
after with his luggage for the rail,
, way station, ! began to grow uneasy
You have % idea what day have ha d
, looking for you, but it has been well
spent, since we have the pleasure OF
seeing you again"
, 81 shall be grateful TO you all my
life for the service you have rendered
me-" replied. But how did you man,
, age to gain admittance to this house p
at was quite easy; the birds had
flown" he answered. Has the sus
picion not struck you that they were
, going to clear out and leave you there
TO starve?"
, THE brutes," answered. But III
be even with their leader yet. And now
. let us get away from here as quickly as
. possible. Have you any idea where ouI
man has gomez"
ITO Naples" Lepallard replied. 81
disguised myself a. a pompous old
bourgeois, and | was behind him when
he asked for his ticket and distinctly
, heard what he said"
Then l shall go after him at once,
. l replied. He will in all obablity
! be off his guard. He will imagine me tc
! be still locked up in this room, you
, see"
I'D -