Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-07-02
CHAPTER NEIII.

THE FLIGHT AT MIDNIGHT.
~ ORRY'S cell was as comfortable
as cell could be made through
n q the efforts of kindly jailer
and sympathetic chief of po-
lice. 1t was not located in the dun
gcon. but high in the tower, q little
rock bound room, with Il single barred
window far above the floor There
was bed of iron, upon which had been
placed a clean mattress, and thcrc WAS
Il little chair The next day after his
arrest n comfortable armchair replaced
the latter \ tabl" lamp, some
books. flowers. 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.
He reported that most Of the AN
phain contingent was still in town. y
portion had hurried home carrying the
news to the old prince. instructed by
the aggressive MizroX to fetch him
forthwith TO Edclwcss. where his au-
gust presence was necessary before the
2ith. The princess, SO Harry informed
the prisoner, sent sincere expressions
of sympathy and the hope that all
would end we'll with aim.
1 Late in the evening. as !.orry Wa .
lying on his bed. staring at the shad-
owy ceiling and pu2zling his brain with
most oppressive uncertainties. the rat
tie of keys in the lock announced the
approach Of visitors. The door SWING
open. and through the CRATE he saw
DangloSS and QuinnoX. The latter
wore a long military rain coat and had
Just come in from drenchng down
pour Lorry's reVeric 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.
"Cnptain QuinnoX brings private
message from the princess" said the
chief. the words scarcely more than
whispered. 1t WIS plain that the mes
sage was important and of secret ma
ture. QuinuUX looked M and down
tho corridor and stairway before
thrusting the tiny note through the
bars 1t was grasped eagerly. ard
trembling fingers broke the seal. Bend
ing near the light, he read the lines, his
vision blurred, his heart throbbing 50
fcrccly 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 dated
breath and guilty. quaking nerves.
"Oh." gaspcl Lo-ry, kissing the mis-
sive insane ~ as hla .. sVurcen-
ed through the last line. There was no
signature, but in every word he saw
her face, felt the touch of her dear
hand, heard her timid heart boating for
him-for him alone Rapture thrilled
him from head to foot. the dclrous
rapture OF love. He could not speak,
B so oycrpowering was the joy, the sur
prise. the awakening
obey" whispered Qunnox. his face
aglOw with pleasure, his finger culver.
ing as lie pointed commandingly to-
ward the letter.
"Obey what" asked Lorry duly.
Tile last line"
He hastily rercad the last line and
then deliberately held the precious mis-.
Sivc over the lamp until it ignited. He
would have given all he possessed to
have preserved ii. But the last line
commanded, Burn this at once and in
the presence Of the bearer"
There" he said rcgrctfully as he
crumplod the charrcd remnants be-
tween his fingers and turned to the ST
lent watchers,
Her crime goes up in smoke" NUT
tered Dangloss Sentcntously.
The princess commits no crime" re-
torted Qunnox angrily, when she
trusts four honest men"
where is shc?" whispered the pris-
oner, with drumming ears.
Where al good women should be ut
o oclock-in bed" replied DanEloss
shortly But will you obey her COM
mandi"
$50 she commands me to escape
snid Lorry, smiling. Il dare not dis
obey my sovereign, suppose"
I'VE obey her because we love her"
said the captain of the guard
"And for that reason | also obey.
But can this thing be accomplished
Ni'h'dt h'''HoiNhliiS "a l'iullullNliN hi''
possible complications? | will not obey
if it is likely to place her in an embar-
RAISING position"
"She understands perfectly what she
is doing, sir In the first place. she has
had my advice" said Dangloss, the
good old bctrayer of an official trust
"You advised her to command you
20 a How ma IN asconorr
"She commanded first, and th,n adj