Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-11-12
cnArrER XII.-lconlInued.l }

Ino utikhuuh were uhNtnI merry ca
rousal after their return; and Gasparde
maddened by the cool. courageous def
ancc Of hls prisoner. and with reieeting
on the loss OF the prize he had thought
so safe, Joined recklessly In the insane
riot. The leapIng, dancing iire Of fagots
glowed redly In the center Of the cavern
casting rudy light upon each of those
dark, swarthy. unshorn countenanees
grim aud fierce. that clustered about H.
Higher and higher leaped the flames. and
more noisy grew the .merriment Of the
brlgands. TIL, finally. there came lull
In the Wild tempest OF mir,h. One by
one grew less elamorous, slowly dr0ws'
lness overeaIne them, and shortly every
man lay stretched upon the heaps OF
skins that covered the cavern door, In
torpor, even to Gasparde himself.
With cat-llke caution, a light tread de-
scendcd the rough.hewn steps a dark
form was visible by the red glow OF the
smolderIng embsrs; slowly and carefully
down from the mouth II came, paus!ng
at each stop, and Ralmonde's eyes glanc-
cd from face TO face OF those sleepers.
lie had been watching ever since this
noisy reyel commenced, and now was the
time come when, without guard or watch
or. the way was left clear for him.
Stealing nolselcssly IN, he scattered up
on the dying embers, from small par
eel in his hand. fine powder that caus,
ed light cracking sound as Il fell
among them, and almost Immediately a
cloud of thin white vapor arose, spreading
and clrclng I'LL Il filled the entire cav
ern, and curious odor. faint, yet over
powering. was perccptihly proceeding
from II. Raimondc. holding a hnndker.
chief to his face, waited some five or ten
minutes, then. approaching the senseless
form OF GaspaFde, dexteFously removed
from the leathern belt about his waist
the ponderous keys that belonged TO the
cells.
Safe enough now, monsieur le capt.
taine, I'll warrant! he muttered, with
a low chuckle. "You should be little
less careless. All people are not as hon
est as yourself"
Swiftly and quietly he trayersed the
gallery leading 10 the cells and opened
the FIRST door. II chanced to be the one
In which the count was confined. Louis
heard the heavy key turning In the
wards; he looked 20 see Gasparde But
II was careful hand that unclosed the
door. aud silently Into the cell stepped
Ralmonde.
Hist! be quiet, monsieur le compte"
he whispered, as Louis, recognizing him,
sprang to his feet, with half-suppress.
ed exclamation OF surprise; do not
speak. | have come TO give you your
libertyW
"My liberty, Raimonde! Where are
the brigands? Where Is Gesparde2"
Sound asleep, monsieur; and | have
some reason TO believe they won't wake
in II hurry. have given them something
to help, Here-I will take off these jew
els OF yours; I dare say you won't be
sorry to be rid OF them" And STOPPING
down, he unlocked and knocked of the
fetters OF the count.
"Ten thousand thanks, Raimondew ex-
claimed Louis, warmly. "But how did
you know we had been retakenr
~ had returned to the cavern to get
something which l had left here, mon
sleur, and was going away again, when
we saw the men coming back with you
and Jacques, You We're In swOon,
suppose, for II took two or three to carry
you. We had some ado to get out of
their way--AIichel and I--without being
seen. l watched, afterwards, while they
were carouslng around the fire, and stole
In. They are quiet enough now. Come,
monsieur; but stop moment. | see you
will need something more than what you
wear now. / win come back in mo-
ment."
He left the cell, and directly returned,
bundle Of garments very much
like those Louis was accustomed to wear
In his excursions about the country The
them, and then left the cell with his com.
panlon. How his heart leaped What
a thrill ran through him as he felt that
ho was once more at liberty
Raimonde's next step was to liberate
Jacques. The poor fellow was almost
beside himself with Joy, and only the alb
solute need Of silence kept him from CIV
Ing unbounded expression to his delight.
Stepping cautiously among the extend
ed forms of the drugged slumberers, the
three rapidly assembled to the entrance,
sprang out upon the forest soil and sped
rapidly and silently away in the early
dawn. Cool and fresh the morning wind
came to the brows Of these men, so lately
prisoners, and 1t was like the benediction
of an angel. For some distance they
pursued their way together, and then
Raimonde paused,
"Now, monsieur lie compte, I will leave
you, as I wish to strike off to the right
here. I should like to have Jacques go
with me-"
"Well-well; then bid you adieu!" re-
.urned the count, warmly, grasping his
land; "and l trust we shall meet again,
when l may offer you more adequate
'eward for your services than you re-
,eived last night, ! thank you thou
iand times, my friendr
And they separated, Raimonde and
Jacques taking right-hand direction,
ind Louis keeping the path to the cha
eau.
Suddenly, as he advanced, some object
lpon the ground attracted his attention.
Picking 1t up, he found 1t to be little
iny slipper. 1t was one of hersl He
lad seen her wear 1t often. He gazed
lpon 1t for moment with feelings of up-
ltterable emotion, and then placed it In |
lis breast.
poor little Rosev' he murmured ten
lerly; "where are you nowf"
With the little relic safe In his breast,
Ie oppressed on. Soon he observed that
he turf all about him appeared to have
'een trampled and crushed with many |
eet whose Impress It still bore Every
where as he went this appearance con-
inued. Further on, he came upon a
orch lying extingulshed upon the ground. |
Anon he picked up handkerchief, en-
.roidered with a dalicnta cinher-FrAncis |