Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1903-02-06
In the Street OF the steen.

| son to believe that seldom in romance
or history had a more singular ad
venture befallen pilgrim from Lon
don than CHANGED to his lot on thi!
same day.
The morning was half spent and
Stuart found himself somewhat at q
loss to know what he should turn tc
next for amusement He had idled in
the markets, discovering new and at
tractive features constantly; had
peen through the various museums
and picture galleries-in short, ex-
hausted the sights of old Antwerp,
and was on the point of considering
his exodus, which would occur just as
soon as he could make up his mind
where his next objective point on the
map of Europe or the world would be-.
Then it was that Fortune, tickle
jade, took the pilgrim from London
by the throat as it were, and radically
changed the whole course of his exist
ence.
AS he stood there idly twisting his
blonde mustache, he became aware of
the fact that someone was bearing
down upon him at a swift pace, some
one whose quick. energetic move
ments reminded him irresistibly of
hawk bouncing upon its prey-some-
one who held out a hand in eager
greeting and seemed bubbling over
with animal spirits.
Stuart welcomed him eagerly. His
name was Barnaby-Artemus Wych-
erly Claude Barnaby-and his profess
sion that of an amateur dramatic
novelist. 1t was simply astonishing,
the weird fancies generated in that
erratic brain of his, each of which
exceeded all others in phantasma
gorie and, it must be confessed, some
times ludicrous splendor.
Just the man of all England
wanted to see. Consider it lucky
omen, by Jove, to run across you in
this manner. I'm going to enlist your
sympathy and cooperation in a little
scheme l have on foot, my boy, and,
you can depend upon it, 1 won't take
no for an answer, so consider your
self engaged as the second conspira
tor"
well, don't know about that; but
what wild, hair-brained scheme have |
you on foot at PRESENT."
Charlie, I've run across the noblest |
heme for a startling drama that ever
,obbed up in anybody's path. Why,
t actually opens an opportunity for
anne and fortune to the gifted genius
Who has boldness enough to grasp the
hance."
"You have, of course, visited the
teen, that great castle down the
treet yonder, once a prison of the
nquisition, now a museum. Did
GU take guide with lighted fam
eaus and explore the frightful dun
cons under the castle, each cell and
orridor of which seems to exhale
ideous memories of the tortures in
icted upon unfortunate prisoners in
lie Dark Ages, when Spanish cruelty
lied this country with an iron
and?"
Stuart replied in the negative. His
-tist soul had Toasted on the treas
res which lay Uttered about the
of the onetime palace; but
10 musty dungeons he had but hast
? surveyed, being naturally averse
the contemplation of such horrors.
"Oh, / am glad of that" said Arte-
us, eagerly, for you will be better
epared to accompany me to those
me dungeons now"
1.-THE deucei" exclaimed Charlie, {
ken aback but, not in the least dis {
ncerted, the other went on: S
Tell me, have you heard the story I
rumor that is circulated here and t
ere through certain circles about t
,dern man in the Iron Mask sup b
sed to be incarcerated in the Steen
ngeons?" g
I remember hearing some little f
k about such thing, but really s
YER pursued the subject" Il
Briefly, then, it has long been "
ispered that there was recently. C,
may still continue to be, secret "
soner confined in a lonely dungeon CT
der yonder massive pile of ma
lry-a man whose face is forever az
den behind an iron mask that is
ured by paddock. 1 have reached sc
conclusion that this man of mys- v,
Y might be some troublesome heir
the German throne, or else a son in
Louis Napoleon. Think for a pl
lutte what wonderful possibilities
J vista opens to the dramatistl 1t II
quite enough to inspire the dullest is
i'd! And 1 am resolved to explore tn
70 ancient dungeons personally, as pl
one has ever done before. with the pa
'etly avowed purpose Of learning ne
'thsr may found my great drama DO