The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-11-22
COPYRIGHT isOs. BY HARprR . BRorHrRs
Blu A. CONAN DOYLE.
Author OF ..The Return OF Sherlock Holmes


pulled up. a knot OF rough fellows clus
tered round, and the two prisoners
were dragged roughly out In the lghi
/ OF the torches which hared arouna
them they could see that they wcr,
hemmed In by high turreted wall.
upon every side. A bulky mau with i
bearded face. the same whom they had
seen at the grating. was standing Ii
the center OF the group Of armed men
issuing his orders.
ITO the upper dungeon. Simon" hs
cried And see that they have fwf
bundles OF straw and loaf Of bread
until we learn our masters WILL
II know not who your master may
be-" said De catinat ''but would ask
you by what warrant he dares TO stop
two messengers OF the king while
travelling In his seryice?"
by st Denis, II my master play
the king trick, II will be but tie and
tie" the stout man answered, with a
grin. But no more talk. Away with
them, Simon, and you answer TO me
for their safe keeping"
II was In vain that De Catinat raved
and threatened, invoking the most ter
rible menaces upon all who were con-
cerned in OBTAINING him. Two stout
knaves thrusting him from behind and
one dragging In front forced him
through narrow gate and along n
stone tagged passage They made
their way down three successive corri-
doris and through three DOORS each OF
which was locked and barred behind
them Then they ascended winding
stone stair, and finally they were
thrust into small square dungeon,
and two trusses OF straw were thrown
In after them. An instant later a
heavy key turned In the lock, and they
were left to their own medItatlons
Very grim and dark those medita-
tions were In the case of De Catnat.
A stroke Of good luck had made him
at court, and now this other OF III for
tune had destroyed him. There were
his people in Paris, too--his sweet
Adele, his old uncle, who had been as
good as father to him. What pro
tector would they have In their
troubles now that he had lost the
power that might have shielded them?
But his energetic comrade had yielded
to no feeling Of dependency. The In
slant that the clang of the prison door
had assured him that he was safe
from interruption be had felt all
round the walls and flooring to see
what manner Of place this might be.
of small fireplace at one corner and
Of two great clumsy bllets Of wood,
which seemed to have been left there
to serve as pillows for the prisoners.
Having satisfied himself that the chin
ney was so small that 1t was utterly
impossible to pass even his head up II,
he drew the two blocks Of wood over
to the window and was able by plac-
ing one above the other and standing
on tlptoe on the highest to reach the
bars which guarded It, Drawing him
self up and fixing one toe in an in
equality Of the wall, he managed to
look out on to the courtyard which
they had just Quilted The carriage
and De Vivonne were passing out
through the gate as he looked, and he
heard a moment later the slam of the
heavy door and the clatter Of hoofs
from the troop OF horsemen outside.
The seneschal and his retaners had
the torches, too, were |
gone, and save for the measured tread |
Of a pair Of sentiDels in the yard TWEEN
ty feet beneath him, all was silent |
throughout the great castle.
The window was large enough to
pass his body through II 1t were not
for those bars. He shook them and
hung his weight upon them, but they
were as thick as his thumb and firmly |
welded; then, getting some strong hold
Tor his other foot, he supported him
;elf by one hand, while he picked with
lis knife at the setting OF the iron. II
was cement, as smooth as glass and hs
lard as marble His knife turned
when he tried TO loosen 1t. But there
vas still the stone. II was sandstone,
lot so very hard. II he could cut
grooves In II he might be able to draw
,ut bars, cement and all. He sprang
lown 70 the floor again and was think
ng how he should best set TO work
when a groan drew his attention to his
Something on your mindT' said
Amos Green, sitting down upon bis
,lllets OF wood. "Wbat was II, them
The guardsman here made move
nent OF impatience. what was III
low can you ask me when you know
q well as do the wretched failure
4 my misslonf II was the kings
rIsh that the archbishop should marry
hem. The archbishop should have
een at the palace by now. All. ] can
ee the kings cabinet. can see him
rafting, I can see madame waiting.
an hear them speak OF the unhappy
,e Catlnat"--
81 see all that" said the American
tolidiy. ''and see something more"
"What Them
II zee The archbishop tying them up
,gether .
"He could not be nj the palace"
"On the contrary. he reached the pal
ce about half an hour ago"
DE Catinat sprang 10 his feet At the
alacer be screamed "Then who gave |
I'M the nessageY"
II did said Amos Green
II the American had expected 20 sur
rise or delight bis companion by this
nrt announcement he was worfully
isnppoInted. for De Catinat approach
] him with face which was full OF
and trouble
my dear friend" said he. Il have
ccn selfish sud thoughiless That fan
ON your horse has shaken you more
ian yon think. Lie down upon this
raw and see II little sleep may
Dr.
II tell yon that the bishop Is there
lied Amos Green.
lie Il. be Is," said DE Catinat sooth-
Igly. He IL most certainly there.
7nsi that you have no painf"
The American rayed IN the air with
. knoIied lstx. "Yon think that I'm Z