The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-10
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ESCAPE.

He bore the livery Of Montague.
Turnkey after turnkey admitted him,
until finally he stood before the cell of
John Law and delivered into his hand,
as he had been commanded, the mes
sage that he bore. That afternoon this
same messenger paused at the gate of
the house of Knollys. Here. too, he
was admitted promptly. He delivered
into the hands Of the Lady Catharine
Knollys certain message. This was
of a Wednesday. On the following
Friday 1t was decreed that the gallows
should do its work. Two more days
and there would be an end Of yes
samy' Law.
That Wednesday night a covered
carriage came to the door of the house
of Knollys. Its driver was muffled in
such fashion that he could hardly have
been known. There stepped from the
house the cloaked figure of a woman,
who entered the carriage and herself
pulled shut the door. The vehicle was
soon lost among the darkling streets.
Catharine Knollys had heard the
summons of her fate. She now sat
trembling in the carriage.
When finally the vehicle stopped at
the curb of the walk which led to the
prison gate, second carriage, as
mysterious as the first, came down the
street and stopped at little dis
lance, but close to the curb on the
side nearest to the gate. The driver
of the first carriage, evidently not lik-
ing the close neighborhood at the time,
edged tri1e farther down the way.
The second carriage thereupon drew
up into the spot just vacated, and the
two, not easily distinguishable at the
hour and in the dark and unlighted
street, stood so, each apparently watch
full Of the other, each seemingly with
out an occupant.
Lady Catharine had left her carriage
before this interchange, and had
passed the prison gate alone. Her
steps faltered. 1t was hardly con-
sciousy that she finally found her way
Into the court. through the gate, down
the evil-smelling corridors, past the
sudden and leering constables, up to
the last gate which separated her from
him whom she had come to see.
She had been admitted without de-
muir as far as this point, and even
now her coming seemed not altogether
matter of surprise. The burly turn
key at the last door stood ready to
meet her With loud commands, he
drove out of the corridor the crowd of
prison attendants. He approached
Lady Catharine, hat in hand and bow
ing deeply.
81 presume you are the man whom
I would see" said she. family. almost
unequal to the task imposed upon her.
AYE, madam, | doubt not, with my
best worship for you"
IL was to come"-said Lady Cath
arine 81 was to speak to you
aye" replied the turnkey. you
were to come, and you were to speak.
And now, what were you to say to me?
Was there no given word?"
There was such word" she said.
"You will understand 1t is in the mat
ter Of Mr.. Law"
"True." said the turnkey. But I
must have the countersign. There are
heads to lose in this, yours and mine.
II there be mistake"
Lady Catharine raised her head
proudly. ut was for Faith" said she,
for Love, and for Hope! These were
the words"
Saying which, as though she had
called to her aid the last atom of her
strength, she staggered back and half
fell against the wall near the inner
gate. The rude jailer sprang forward
to steady her
Eyes, yes" he whispered, eagerly.
"'Tis all proper. These be the words.
Pray you. have courage, lady"
There came into the corridor muir
muir of voices, and there was audible
also the sound of a mans footballs ap-
preaching along the flags. Catharine
Knollys looked through the bars of the
gate which the turnkey was already
| beginning to throw open for her. She
looked. and there appeared upon her
vision sight which caused her heart
to stop, which COMPOUNDED all her rea-
son. From a side door there advanced
John Law, magniflcently clad, walking
now as though he trod the floor Of some
great hau or banquet room.
The woman waiting without the gate
reached out her arms. She would have
cried aloud Then she fell back against
the wall whereat had she not grasped
she must have sunk down to the floor
Upon the arm OF John Law, and look
Ing up to him as she walked, there
hung the clinging figure OF a woman.
half-hidden by the nickering shadows
or the torches A deep cloak fell back
from her shoulders. 1t might have
been the light fabric OF the aborigine
Upon the foot OF Mary Connynge,
twinkling in and out as she walked
showed the crudely garnished little
shoe OF the Indian princess over seas
dainty, bizarre. singular. covering the
smallest foot In all London town.
BY all the saints" Law was saying,
you might be the very maker OF this
ITO BE CONTINUED