Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-07-21

zle OF q TeU0tUef.
n sheet and tore 1t into strips, impa-
tiently thrusting them into the others
hands. The first letter had foretOld all
this, and the prisoner knew what was
expected Of him. He therefore secure
ly bound the guards legs and arms.
With a grim smile the captive nodded
his head toward the revolver, the Ian
tern and the keys. His obliGing prison
er secured them, as well az his own
personal effects, and was ready to de-
part. According to instructions, be
was to 90 forth, locking the doors be-
hind him, leaving the man to be dis
covered the next morning by surprised
keepers. 1t struck him that there was
something absurd in this part Of the
plan. How was this guard to explain
his position with absolutely no sign Of
struggle to bear him out? 1t was
hardly plausible that big, strong fel-
low could be 30 easily overpowered
single handed. There was something
wretchedly incongruous about the-but
there came q startling and effective
end to all criticism.
The guard, bound as he was, sudden
" turned and lunged headforemost
against the sharp bsdpost His head
struck with thud, and he rolled to the
floor as If dead. Uttering an exclama-
ton Of horror, Lorry ran to his side.
Blood was gushing from a long cash
across his head, and he was already
unconscious. Sickened by the brave
sacrifice, he picked the man up and
placed him on the bed. A hasty exam
nation proved that 1t was no more
than scalp wound and that death was
too remote to be feared. The guard
had done his part nobly, and 1t was
now the prisoners turn to act as reso-
lutely and as unfinchingly. Sorry to
leave the poor fellow in what seemed
an inhuman manner, he strobe into the
corridor, closed and locked the doors
clumsily and began the descent Of the
stairs. He had been instructed to act
unhesitatingly, as the slightest show OF
nervousness would result In discovery.
With the helmet well down over bis
face and the cape well up he steadily,
even noisily, made his way to the next
floor below. There were prisoners on
this floor, while he had been the only
occupant Of the floor above. Straight
ahead he went. flashing his lantern
here and there, passing down another
stairway and into the main corridor.
Here lie met guard who had just
come in from the outside. The man ad-
dressed him in the language Of the
| country, and his heart almost stopped
beating. How was he to answer? Num-
bling something almost inaudible, he
hurried on to the ground floor, trembling
with fear lest the man should call to
him to halt He was relieved to find,
| in the end, that his progress was not
to be impeded. In another moment he
was boldly unlocking the door that led
to the visitors hall. Then came the
door to the warden's Office. Here he
found three sleepy guards, none OF
whom paid any attention to him as he
passed through and entered Captain
Dangloss' private room. The gruh old
captain sat at desk writing. The es-
Gaping man half paused as If to speak
to him. A sharp cough from the cap
tain and a significant jerk Of the head
told him that there must be no delay,
no words. Opening the door he stepped
out into a storm 30 fierce and wild that
he shuddered apprehensively.
"A fitting nightw he muttered as ne
plunged into the driving rain, forcing
his way across the courtyard toward
the main gate. The little light in the
gatekeeper's window was his guide
SO, blinded by the torrents, blown by
the winds, he soon found himself be-
fore the final barrier. Peering through
the window, he saw the keeper doing
in his chair. By the light from within
he selected from the bunch OF keys ne
carried one that had white string
knotted in its ring. This was the key
that was to open the big gate in case
no one challenged him. In any other
case he was to give the countersign,
"Dangloss," and trust fortune to pass
him through without question.
Luck was with him, and, finding the
great lock, he softly inserted and turn
ed the key. The wind blew the heavy
gate open violently, and it required all
of his strength to keep 1t from banging