The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-27
N " M M & ;
CHAPTER XVI.
The Escape.

The Escape.
On a certain morning a messenger rode
In hot haste up to the prison gate. He
bore the livery Of Montague. Turnkey after
turnkey admitted him until finally he
stood before the cell of John Law and
delivered into his hand, as he had been
commanded, the message that he bore
That afternoon this same messenger
paused at the gate of the house Of Knoll
lys. Here, too, he was admitted prompt
ly. He delivered into the hands Of the
Lady Catharine Knollys certain message.
This was Of a Wednesday. On the fol-
lowing Friday it decreed that the gal
lows should do its work. Two more days
and there would be an end of "Jessamy'
Law.
That Wednesday night covered car
rage came to the door Of the house Of
Knollys. Its driver was muffled in such
fashion that he could hardly have been
known. There stepped from the house the
coaked figure of q woman, who entered
the carriage and herself pulled shut the
door. The vehicle was soon lost among
the darklng streets.
Catharine Knollys had heard the sum-
mons Of her fate. She now sat trembling
in the carriage.
When finally the vehicle stopped at the
curb Of the walk which led to the prison
gate, second carriage, as mysterious as
stopped at little distance, but close to
the curb on the side nearest to the gate
The driver Of the first carriage, evident
ly not liking the close neighborhood at
the time, edged trihe farther down the
way. The second carriage thereupOn drew
up into the spot just vacated, and the
two, not easily distinguishable at the hour
and In the dark and unlighted street, stood
go. each apparently watchful Of the other
each seemingly without an occupant.
Lady Catharine had left her carriage
before this interchange, and had passed
the prison gate alone. Her steps faltered.
1t was hardly consciously that she finally
found her way into the court, through the
gate, down the evi-smelling corridors,
past the sodden and leering constables, up
to the last gate which separated her from
him whom she had come to see.
She had been admitted without demur
as far as this point. and even now her
coming seemed not altogether matter OF
surprise. The burly turnkey a the last door
stood ready to meet her. With loud COM
mands, he drove out Of the corridor the
crowd of prison attenadnts. He ap
preached Lady Catharine, hat in hand and
bowling deeply.
IT presume you the whom I
would see?" she said family, almost un-
equal to the task imposed upon her.
Aye, madam, doubt not, with my best
IL was to come said Lady ca tha rlne.
II was to speak to yOu-
Aye" replied the turnkey. you were
to come, and you were to speak. And
now, what were you to say to me? Was
there no given Word?''
There was such q word" she said.
"You will understand. 1t is in the matter
of Mr.. Law"
'True," said the turnkey. But must
have the countersign. There are heads to
lose In this, yours and mine, If there be
mistake
Lady Catharine raised her head proudly.
1T for Faith said she, "fOr Love,
and for Hope! These were the Words
Saying which, as though she had called
to her aid the last atom Of her strength,
she staggered back and half fell against
the wall near the inner gate. The rude
jailer sprang forward to steady her.
Yes, yes" he whispered. eagerly.
"'Tis all proper. Those be the words.
Pray you, have courage, lady"
There came into the corridor murmur
Of voices. and there was audible also the
sound of mans footballs approaching
along the flags. Catharine Knollys looked
through the bars Of the gate which the
turnkey was already beginning to throw
open for he-. She looked, and there ap-
peared upon her vision a. sight which
caused her heart to stop, which confound-
advanced John Law, magniicently clad.
walking now as though he trod the floor
Of some great hall or banquet-room
The woman waiting without the gate
reached out her arms. She would have
cried aloud. Then she fell back against
the wall, whereat had she not grasped she
must have sunk down to the floor
Upon the arm Of John Law, and looking
up to him as she walked. there hung the
clnging figure Of a woman, half hidden
by the Pickering shadows Of the torches.
A deep cloak fell back from her shoulders
1t might have been the light fabric Of the
aborigine. Upon the foot Of Mary Con-
nyEge. twinkling in and out as she
walked, showed the crudely garnished lit
tie shoe Of the Indian princess over seas,
dainty, bizarre, singular, covering the
smallest foot mall London town.
by all the saints!" Law was saying.
''you might be the very maker Of this
little slipper yourself. have won the
forty crowns, swear! Perforce, I'll leave
them to you in my will"
The shock Of the light speech made
even Mary Connynge vince. For the mo-
ment she averted her eyes from the hand
some face above her. She looked, and
saw what gave her greater shock. Law,
too, stared, as her own startled gaze
grew fixed. He advanced close to the
gate. only to start back in a horror Of
surprise which racked even his steeled
composure.
Madam he cried; and then, "Cath-
arine!"
Catharine Knollys made no answer to
him, though she looked straight and
calmly into his face, seeming not in the
least to see the woman near him. Her
eyes were wide and shining. Sir" said
she, kept fast to Hope! This was for
Faith and for Love!''
The jailer with one quick gesture swung
wide the gate. Haste, haste!' he cried
"Quick and begone! This night may
mean my ruin! Get ye gone, all of ye,
and give me time to think. Out with
ye all, for must lock the gate!"
John Law passed as one stupefed, the
slender form Of Mary Connynge still upon