The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1903-08-26

I
TO her before everything is lost. The
fear that she may marry Gabriel will
drive me mad IL am left here an
other night Come! Let us prepare TO
start. We must notify the abbot that
| am to go. / can be ready in five
minutes Ye gods, think of what she
may be sacrificing for mew
LorIy soon was attired i'm the guards
uniform he had worn from the tower
a month before. His pistol was in his
pocket. and the bunch of violets she
.ad sent 70 him That very night was
pinned defiantly above his heart. Quin-
nox smiled when he observed this bit
of sentiment, and grimly informed him
that he was committing an act pro
hlbited in Dangloss' disciplinary rules.
Officers on duty were not to wear
nosegays.
"Dangloss will not see my violets.
By the way, the moon shines brightly,
doesn't III"
ut is almost as light as day. Our
trip is made extremely hazardous for
that reason. l am sOrely afraid, rash
sir, that we cannot reach the castle
unseen"
1--WE must go about it boldly; that's
ALL"
HAS II occurred to you, sir, that you
are placing me in a terrible position?
What excuse can have, a captain of
the guard, for Sinking about at night
with a man whom am supposed to be
tracking to earth? Discovery will
brand me as a traitor. | cannot deny
the charge without exposing her royal
highness."
Lorry turned cold. He had not
thought of this alarming possibility.
But his ready wit came again to his
relief and with bright, confident eyes
he swept away the obstacle.
"If discovered, you are at once to
proclaim me prisoner. take the credit
for having caught me and claim the
reward"
in that case you will not go to the
castle, but to the tower"
Not if you obey orders. The offer of
reward says that must be delivered
to the undersigned. You will take me
10 her and not TO the tower"
Quinnox smiled and threw up his
hands as if unable to combat the quick
logic of his companion. Together they
made their way TO the priOr's cell, aft
erward to the abbots apartment 1t
was barely IL o'clock, and he had not
retired. He questioned Quirnox closely,
babe Lorry farewell and blessed him,
sent Ills benedictiOn TO the princess
and ordered them conducted TO the
gates.
Ten minutes later they stood outside
the wall, the great gates having been
closed sharply behind them. Above
them hung the silvery moon, full and
bright. throwing its refulgent splendor
over the mountain top with all the
brilliancy of day. Never before had
Lorry seen the moon so accursedly
bright.
Cad. it is like day" he exclaimed.
"As told you. sir" agreed the other
reproof in his voice.
Eve must wait until the moon goes
down. 1t won't do to risk it now. Can
we not 20 somewhere to keep warm
for an hour or sot'
There is a cave farther down the
mountain. Shall we take the chance of
reaching it,
by all means | can't endure the
cold after being cooped up for so
long"
They followed the winding road for
some distance down the mountain. COM
ing at last to a point where Il small
path branched of. 1t was the path
leading down the side of the steep
overlooking the city, and upon that
side no wagon road could be built
Seven thousand feet below stretched
the sleeping. moonlit city. Standing
out on the brow of the mountain, they
seemed TO be the only living objects in
the world. There was no sign of life
above, below or beside them.
How long should we be in making
the descentf' asked Lorry, a sort of
terror possessing him as he looked
from the dizzy height into the ghostlike
dimness below.
"Three hours if you are strong"
"And how are we to get into the cas-
tie? | hadn't thought of that"
There is secret entrance" said
Qunnox. maliciously enjoying the in
sistent ones acknowledgment of weak
ness. III we reach it safely, can take
you under ground to the old dungeons
beneath the castle. 1t may be some
time before you can enter the halls
above, for the secret passage is guard
ed jealousy. There are but five people
who know of its existence"
Great confidence is placed in you,
see, and worthily, am sure. How is II
that you are trusted so implicitly?"
Il inherit the confidence. The cap
tain of the guard is born to his posi-
ton. My ancestors held the place be-
fore me. and not one betrayed the
trust. The frstbOrn in the last ten gen
erations has been the captain of the
guard in the royal palace. possessing
all its secrets. l shall be the first to be-
tray the trust. and for q man who is
nothing 10 me-"
81 sunnosa Won cousf1ar mo sa1fsb