The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-08-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
might.

III the efforts of a kindly jailer
and sympathetic chief of po-
lice. 1t WAS not located in the dun
geon. but high in the tower. a little
rock bound room. with a single barred
window far above the floor. There
was bed of iron. upon which had been
placed a clean mattress, and there was
little chair. The next day after his
arrest q comfortable armchair replaced
the latter. A table, a lamp. some
books. flowers, a bottle of wine and
some fruit found their way to his lone
ly apartment. whoever may have sent
them. Harry Anguish was admitted
to the cell during the afternoon.
lie reported that most of the AK
phNin contingent was still in town. \
portion had hurried home. carrying the
news TO the old prince. instructed by
the aggressive Mizrox TO fetch him
forthwith TO Edcweiss. where his au-
gust presence was necessary before the
26th. The princess. so Harry Informed
tie prisoner, sent sincere expressions
Of sympathy and the hope that all
NOhib tliN NCiA WIN hiiis
Late in the evening as Lorry was
lying on his bed. staring at the shad-
Owy ceiling and puzzling his brain with
most oppressive uncertainties. the rat
tie of keys in the lock announced the
approach of visitors. The door swung
open. and through the CRATE he saw
Dangloss and Quinnox. The latter
wore a long military rain coat and had
Just come in from drenching down
pour. Lorry's reverie had been so
deep that he had not heard the thun-
der nor the bowling of the winds.
Springing to his feet. he advanced
quickly to the grated door.
Captain Quinnox brings a private
message from the princess" said the
chief. the words scarcely more than
whispered. 1t was plain that the mes
sage was important and of a secret ma
ture. QuinnoX looked up and down
the corridor and stairway before
thrusting the tiny note through the
bars. II was grasped eagerly. and
trembling fingers broke the seal. Bend
ing near the light. he read the lines. his
vision blurred. his heart throhbing so
fiercely that the blood seemed TO be
drowning out other sounds for all time
TO come. In the dim corridor stood the
two men. watching him with bated
breath and guilty. quaking nerves.
"Oh!" gasped Lorry. kissing the mis-
sive insanely as his greedy eyes careen-
I'D through the last line. There was no
signature, but in every word he saw
ler face, felt the touch of her dear
Land, heard her timid heart beating for
him-for him alone. Rapture thrilled
him from head TO foot. the delirious
rapture of love. He could not speak.
so overpowering was the joy. the sur
prise. the awakening.
"Obeyw whispered Qulnnox. his face
aglow with pleasure, his finger CULVER
ing as he pointed commandlEgly to-
ward the Letter.
"Obey whatw asked Lorry DULY.
1.-The last liner'
He hastily reread the last line and
then deliberately held the precious mis-
sive over the lamp until II ignited. lie
would have given all he possessed TO
have preserved IL. But the last line
commanded. Burn this at once and in
tie presence Of the bearer"
THERE" he said regretfully as be
crumpled the charred remnants be-
tween his fingers and turned 10 tie ST.
lent watchers.
Her crime goes up In smoke" NUT
tered Dangloss sententiously.
The princess commits 10 crime" re-
torted Quinnox angrily, when she
trusts four honest men,"
Where Is sheT' whispered the pris-
oner. with drumming ears.
Where all good women should be at
o'clock-in bed" replied Dangloss
shortly. But will you obey Ler COM
mandf'
80 she commands me to escapev'
said Lorry. smiling. Il dare not dis
"l'av NV sovereign I SUPPOSE"