Rocky Ford enterprise., 1902-07-18
CHAPTER !.
In the Street OF the Steen.

In the Street OF the Steen.
II al happened In quaint old Ant
| werp. and Charlie Stuart found rea-
son To believe that seldom in romance
or history had a more singular ad-
venture befaiien a pilgrim from Lon
don than CHANGED To his lot on this
same day.
Tho morning was half spent and
Stuart found himself somewhat at \
loss TO know what he should turn to
next for amusement. He had idled In
the markets. discovering new and at
tEaetiye features constantly: had
been through the various museums
and picture Eaiieries-in short. sx-
hausted tho sights Of old Antwerp.
and WAS on the point of considering
his exodus. which would occur Just As
soon as he could make up Ais mind
where his next objective point on the
map Of Europe or the world would be.
Then IL was that Fortune. hekia
Jade. took the pilgrim from London
by the throat as Il were. and radically
changed the whole course OF his exist
enec.
A he stood there Idly twisting his
blonde mus,aehc. he became aware OF
tho fact that someone was bearing
down upon him nj n swift pace. some
one whose quick. energetic move
mcnis reminded him irresistibiy of u
hawk pouncing upon its prey-some-
one who held out hand In eager
xrestinK and seemed bubblinE over
with animal spirits.
Stuart welcomed him eagerly. His
name Was Barnaby-Artemus wych-
erly Claude sBarnaby-and his profess
sion that of an amateur dramatic
novelist II was Simply astonishing.
tho weird fancles generated In that
cratic brain OF his. each of which
exceeded all Others In phantasma-
.oric and. Il must be confessed. some
times iudicrous rplcndor.
Just the man OF all England l
wanted to src. Consider II n lucky
omen. by Joyc. to run across you In
this manner. I'm going TO enlist your
sympathy and cooperation In n little
scheme I have on foot. my boy. and.
you can depend upon Il. ! won't take
no for an answer. 40 consider your
self engaged ms the second consplra-
tor"
We'll. don't know about that: but
what wild. hair-braincd scheme have
you on foot at present.
Charlie. I've run across the mobiles,
theme for n stnrtiin. drama that ever
bobbcd up in anybody's path. Why.
II actually opens m opportunity for
fame and fortune to the gifted genius
who has holiness enough to grasp the
chance
you have. of course. visited the
Stecn. that great castle down the
street yondcr. once prison OF the
Inquisition. now museum. Did
you take guide with lighted fam
bcaus and explore the frighiful dun
geons under the castle. each cell and
corridor of which seems to cxhaic
hidcous memories of the torturcs in
hicted upon unfortunate prisoners In
the Dark Ages. when Spanish cruelty
ruled this country with IN iron
| hand?"
Stuart replied In the negative. His
artist soul had Toasted on the treas
ures which lay Uttered about the
courtyard of the onctime palace: but
i
lily surveyed. being naturally aversc
to the contemplation OF such horrors.
"Oh. I am glad OF that" said Arte-
mus. eagerly. for you will be better
prepared to accompany me to those
same dungeons now"
THE deuce!" exclaimed Charlie.
taken aback: but. not in the least dis
concerted. the other went on:
Tell me. have you heard the story
or rumor that is circulated here and
there through certain circles about Il
modern man In the Iron Mask sup
posed to be incarcerated in the Steen
dungeons"
Il remember hearing some little
talk about such n thing. but really
never pursued the subject"
Briefly. then. 1t has long been
whispered that there was recently,
and may still continue to be. secret
prisoner confined in a lonely dungeon
under yonder massive pile of ma
sonry-a man whose face is forever
hidden behind an iron mask that is
secured by paddock. have reached
the conclusion that this man of mys-
terry might be some troublesome heir
to the German throne. or else son
of Louis Napoleon. Think for a
minute what wonderful possibilities
| this vista opens to the dramatist! 1t
is quite enough to inspire the dullest
mind! And / am resolved to explore
those ancient dungeons personally, as
no one has ever done before. with the
secretly avowed purpose of learning
whether nay found my great drama
upon a truth. or the mere fabric of a
Dutch legend. And you will accom-
pany me. my boy. out of pure philan-
thropy, to share in the exhilaration of
uccess"-touching suspicious bot
tlelike package he carried under his
left arm-''or to support me in case of
exasperating failure"
Charlie Stuart could not say him
nay; he really had nothing on foot
whereby to kill time. and Artemus
was such jolly and original dog that
1t were worth something to have
the pleasure of his society for space
OF time.
So, hesitating, he fell.
And. thus sauntering down the
street of the Steen. the two friends