The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-03-09

tendant.
Frontenac before long became con.
scious of q new force that was aiding
his enemy, insidiously undermining his
influence among many of his adher-
ents. He was at a loss to account for
this, and It was some time ere he sus-
pected the stranger. Finally, several
discoveries confirmed his suspicious,
and he realized that In the person Of
the young man there lay a useful ally
for the intendant and a dangerous
enemy to himself. He was powerless
to do anything. however, as the Comte,
although an acknowledged friend Of
nuchesneau, was still louder in his
professions Of friendship and respect
for the governor and the colony, SO
F~rOptenac was Obliged to bide his time
until by some overt act or word he
would lay himself liable to legal in
reference.
The mischief that he made became
so great that the governor was des-
perate. At length an audacious speech
made by the Comte de Miron n even
Ing was reported to him. He saw his
opportunity. The Comte was brought
before the council, and several wit
nesses testified to having heard him
boastingly remark that there was
nothing like righting ones wrongs
oneself, and that when the English cut
on the head Of Charles l. they did a
good thing, besides several u~tterances
Of a similar tenor. He was, therefore,
accused Of speaking i'll Of royalty in
the person of the king of England, and
uttering words tending to seditlon.
The intendant and HIS followers In the
council did their utmost to protect
their ally, but in vain. Frontenac's
influence carried the day and he was
adjudged guilty. The governor forced
the council to impose the most humil-
iating penalty possible, in order to
discourage any others from taking up
the cause of Duchesneau. According
ly, he was dragged ANONYMOUSLY from
prison by the public executioner and
led by a rope around his neck. with a
torch in hand, to the gate of the Cha
teau, there to beg pardon of the king;
thence to the pillory of the lower town,
where he was branded on the cheek
with a feur-de-lis and get in the stocks
for half an hour; then he was led back
10 prison and placed in irons. This
was to be repeated three times.
The man while passing through the
terrible ordeal of the day had seen the
tace of Madame BLIZZARD in the crowd
who smiled and nodded encouragingly,
They had become great friends, and
the Comte was glad to find -one kindly
glance. The room in which he was
confined was on the g%round-foor Of the
Chateau. Scarcely had he thrown
himself exhausted upon the bed placed
beneath the little grated opening tina,
admitted air and light, when a sum
mons at the door engaged his guards
attention for the moment. Just at thi:
juncture the prisoner felt something
drop on his chest from above, and saw
that a tiny parcel had been thrown Ii
through the window. He quickly
opened 1t and recognized a key ftting
his letters. wrapped in a piece Of pa
per, on which was written:
Escape tonight at II; there !!
worse in store for YOU. You will find
all the doors unlocked" There was NJ
name signed, but he recognized thu
writing.
At dark his TALLER left him and wa
replaced by four trusty soldiers o.
Frontenac. They examined his i.onI
and then left him to himself, a seem
ingly half-unconscious being, huddlet
upon the bed near the door, which wa.
fastened upou the inside by an iroY
cross-bar. After their conversation be
gan to flag they stacked their arms
took the one light in the room to
further corner, leaving the bed Ia
half shadow, and proceeded b pas
away the time with cards. The prison
err hearkened to q distant clock in tht
Chateau striking ten and heard tn,
sounds of closing the building for tn,
night as the inmates retired. Care
fully he inserted the key into the loci
of the iron on his right hand. which
was freed: then into that of the left
and 1t was liberated also. Slowly h
reached down, watching with half
closed eyes the group of soldiers In thu
corner attentive to their game, ant
withdrew his legs from the encirclin,
letters. He waited impatiently for tn
clock to sound il and wondered wha
he would do II he found his informa
tfon false. Perhaps It vas all a trap Il
induce him to attempt to escape! HI
would chance H. Eleven o'clocl
struck; the players laughed guarded.
at their game. He arose, and with or
bound seized the four guns.
The rafting noise attracted the at
tention Of the. soldiers, who started Vi
only to fiud their prisoner freed an,
with one of the guns pointed at them
Before they recovered from their as
tonishment he had slipped the bolt
the door swung open. Speeding dow
the corridor, he found the doors tia
barred his way were all unfastened
He heard the shouts Of alarm raised b.
the soldiers; the last door opened init
the night air: he was free!