Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-01-22
The Mississippi Bubble
By EMERSON HoUGH
author ef The ytory Of k6s az s6s
AsHSay Assss." Ese -
toopyrisht, iSaA b EmsFson Housh.1
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ESCAPE.
BY EMERSoN Houc1

A1A1N IISSf1GL
On certain morning a messenger
rode in hot haste to the prison gate.
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 it was decreed that the gallows
should do it's work. Two more days
and there would be an end Of "Jes-
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 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 a 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 trifle 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-
sciously 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
a 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.
II presume you are the man whom
would see," said she, family, almost
unequal to the task imposed upon her.
"Aye, madam, / doubt not, with my
best worship for you.'
81 was to come"-said Lady Cath
arine. Il 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 TIE mat
ter of Mr.. Law"
True" said the turnkey. But
must have the countersign. There ar,
heads to lose in this, yours and mine
| If there be mistake"
Lady Catharine raised her hea(
proudly. ut was for Faith" said she
for Love, and for Hope! These were
the words"
Saying which, as though she hat
called to her aid the last atom Of hel
strength, she staggered back and hal
fell against the wall near the innel
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 corSidor muir
muir of voices, and there was audibl,
also the sound of mans footballs ap
preaching along the flags. Catherine
Knollys looked through the bars of tn,
gate which the turnkey was alread.
beginning to throw open for her. Sh,
looked, and there appeared upon hel
vision sight which caused her hear
to stop, which COMPOUNDED all her rea
son. From side door there advance,
John Law, magnificently clad, walking
now as though he trod the floor of som,
great hall or banquet room.
| The woman waiting without the gat,
reached out her arms. She would hav,
cried aloud. Then she fell back agains
the wall, whereat had she not graspet
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 woman