The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-08-19

talk with two other men. suddenly
one Of them took from his pocket three
knives, giving one to the priest, the
other to his companion, and putting
the third in the breast of his coat.
After the departure of the uncle, Jul
lienne had not removed her eyes from
the embroidery on which she was
working, although she appeared an
noyed at the surveillance she was sub
jected to by the servant When the
maid at last fell into doze De Saint
aine took advantage of this to converse
with the niece. AT his approach she
lifted her head and indicated rapidly
that he was in peril, and that she was
determined to save him, but to accom-
plish it he must obey her implicitly
When the priest returned he remark
ed casually that one Jacome, bour-
geois of BCurges, who was at the fair
at la Chatre. would be, with the per-
mission of De Saintaine, a guest at
supper.
This second visitor proved to be
| Combons the man who distributed the
Knives. His appearance in the house
| confirmed De Saintaine in the opinion
| that he had been caught in a trap.
| When De Saintaine was shown to his
room in anticipation of the supper
hour, Julienne managed to whisper to
him to bolt the door and expect fur
| Their news from her. About twenty
minutes after he heard slight noise
above his head. little trap opened in
| the ceiling, white hand appeared and
a paper was dropped therefrom, con-
| tanning these word:
They are determined to kill and rob
| you. AT supper they will offer you
drugged wine. This will throw you
into a deep sleep, when you will be
! killed. John, the groom and | will
save you and myself at the same time.
| Show no fear to your companions;
| they will not kill you until you are
asleep. When you return to your room
wait patiently our arrival and above
all do not be alarmed if we enter the
room in an unusual way. Burn this
note and pull back the bolt on the
| door.
The supper was uncommonly good
and general gayety prevailed sign
from John and Julenne indicated to
De Saintaine the drugged bottle. He
made pretence of drinking the wine.
During pause in the conversation De
Saintaine pretended to be sleepy and
asked permission of his host to retire
at about II o'clock.
To assure himself against surprise,
he tried to push the bolts OF the door;
but they were not in place, having
evidently been removed while he was
at supper. All he could do was TO
close the door and barricade it with
a heavy bureau. This was barely done
when a light noise attracted his at
tention in part OF the room near the
bed. He walked there, taking the pre-
caution to arm himself with his
sword and pistols. They were useless,
for while at supper the charge in each
had been drawn. Near the bed in
panel in the wall, masked by por-
trait was pushed back. In the open
ing stood John and Julienne,. each
holding q dark lantern.
They signalled him to approach AS
he Joined them the sound of key be-
ing turned in the lock of the barrl-
caded door attracted his attention. An
attempt to open it was prevented by
the furniture placed against it.
There was no time to lose; the en-
envy was at hand John took De Sain-
tame by the hand, with the valuable
portmanteau in the grip of the other
and led him into the mysterious pas
sage by which they had reached the
panel, which consisted of a large sheet
of iron They hurried their flight
through a number of Subterranean
lanes, from which they emerged into
the open country at least mile from
the parsonage and on the opposite
side of the canal. There two horses
were tethered; John mounted the one
and De Saintaine the other; with Jul
lienne on pillion behind him. AS
they rode on through the forest the
moon, lighting the side OF hill visl-
BILE through a clearing disclosed a body
of men, members, no doubt of the band
of brigands of which the priest was the
cnleI. AL udyDTeah lney Iedchou Do
Saintaines house. Later in the morn
ing they set out for Bourges, where
Julienne was placed in temporary
charge of the sisters of d religious re-
treat.
The priest, furious at the escape of
his guest and the loss of his expected
booty fastened to anticipate an &C
cusation against him by lodging COM