The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-04-04

fortunate criminal within.
"Ah. | expected you would come,
father smiled old Goelet. but you
are late. ! had locked up for the
the night. M'sieu Bernard Pere Poly
carp. our dear cure. wishes TO see the
prisoner.
Bernard bowed. gruntcd and
scanned the priest with an attempt at
melodramatic cunning. The cure.
who was a sleek. shrewd man Of per-
haps 40 gave back the glance with de-
corous interest. Then Goelct took
the candle and led the way. unbarring
doors and twisting rusty keys as they
passed into the barred and dirty base
ment wherethe prisoner lay. Bernard
accompanied them. perhaps to have a
final look at his charge, perhaps to
watch for any signs Of collusion or C
quainiance between NJ. Theriot and
the priest. The bearded prisoner with
in blinked and stared in the sudden
light. 1t wa evident that he was sur
prised. lie said nothing. and the
cure, muttcring a brief benedicite, en-
tered the cell'and sat down beside
Theriot.
Then the jailcr and Bernard with
drew to the door which led from the
~cellroom. and. standing without, wait
ed for the priest to finish his holy
task. They could hear the muttering
of the confcssor and the penitent
through the half-optn door. but it
was an hour before Father Polycarp
came out ready to depari. Hcseemed
cheercd aud enlivcncd by the uccess
of hi. spiritual venture. and talked an
imatedly to Bernard. while old Goe-
let. candle in hand. locked the doorof
Thcriot's cell and babe him good
night. The priest and the detective
went away together.
81 havca word Of comfort to the I'M
happy wife. and shall be glad of your
escort to the inn explained the cure.
And 50 they walked away toward
the hostclry which was thetemporary
home of both Bernard and Nine. The
riot. CASTOR admitted them. awak-
oncd madame. and sat at the head OF
the stairway wondering while the
priest at the far end Of the hall gave
his brief message to the prisoners
wife. Bernard, whose room was on
the fret floor. saw him depart. and in
ten minutes the priest disappeared be-
yond the yinc-covcrod wall Of hi, gar
den, and all Blossin slept.
Bernard appeared at the jail before
seven in the morning. The train for
Paris the only n each day was due
at eight. Goclct and his assistant
were astir. Together they went 10
Theriot's cell and found-nobody but
Father polycarp!
He was sitting on the bench of hi
dungeon. calmly reading his b~reyiary.
lis cowl was thrown back and on,
sandalcd foot wa, thrust against the
opposite wall Of the small apartment.
Bernard let slip an oath, turned pale
and shook with rage. Old Goclet''
eyes bulged as he calculated: "Mor
Dicu, where i. the prisoner
, IL let him 90, Goelet," said the
, priest. arising; Is my brother. NJ!
twin"
The cure was very calm( even smil-
ing. as he closed his book and stopped
to pick something from the floor.
'IIerc i, M'sieu Theriot's hair. hi,
beard. ! shaved him. and he passed
out with you"
Bernard dashed out Of the cellar
and up the stairs like a maniac.
"Alas! M'sieu lc Cure, you have ru'
ined mel moancd Goelct. dropping
I disconsolatc on the bench. but tho
| good priest smiled as he took the cot.
fee tin from the assistant, and rs he
/, slipped it, said;
You will survive it. Goelet, BE.
sides. my brother was innocent. !
confessed him."
I Bernard. the smart detective was at
the cure, house in five minutes. Th,
, gardener was a,tir, but had seen moth.
, ing Of his master. A search Of the
: house showed he VA, not within ant
had not slept in hi bed. Back to the
4. hotel few the detective. Nine The,
, riot was gone. Clutching at the finaI
straw Of his suspicion Bernard ther
ran othcja
you are not Pere P~olycarp.' hC
| ragged AT the priest, who was munchinL