The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-24
A DEAD-EAsY THING.

(By NJ. Quad)
Mr.. Adelbert Tonge. as we will call
MIN, had been VOyaging in eastern seas
with his yacht He was a young man
OF twenty-four. and a resident of New
York. and while he was known among
his set as a good fellow, ne was also
known as a conservative. In this case
conservatism meant that he had never
been in love and wasn't looking for ad-
ventures with women. He was accom-
panied on his trip by three younS
men, bat none of them were conserva-
tive
When the yacht got around to a GER
tain port in Spain the owner went off
one day to view the leading cathedral
by himself. As a matter o. fact, the
other three had said that they would
rather see one bull fight than ten
cathedrals and they were left to en-
joy themselves in their own way. Mr.
Yonge saw the cathedral from the out
side and from the in. While he was
visiting the interior two ladies passed
him. and one deity slipped & note into
his hand. He made out that the note
slipper was a girl and the other her
duenna. His heart gave. several jumps
ere he got outdoors and found Oppor-
tunit to read the note.
You are an American" read the
note. and I appeal to you as an
American. Five years ago an uncle
OF mine who desired to get possession
OF my fortune had me shut up an. the.
have been a prisoner ever since, and it
has been given out in America that I
am dead Once week I am allowed
TO visit the cathedral but am always
closely watched. saw you week
ago and determined to appeal to you.
For Heavens sake rescue me from this
living death If you can place a lad
der against the northwest corner of
the wall surrounding the convent at
ten o'clock on the night of the 14th I
can persuade Sister Mary to permit
me to pass into the grounds and thus
escape. Bring rope twenty feet long
with you. Bring horses or carriage
There IS no way you can answer this
except in person. I know you VIII not
leave me here. My name is BritO-
marte Keith"
Young Mr.. YOnge was conserva-
tive but a conservative may make an
ass of himself occasionally He wasn't /
in that port the week before and con- /
sequsntly the girl could not have seen I
him If she had been closely watched /
she could not have passed the note If I
nothing but a young man and a ladder
and 4 rome were needed. she could |
have been rescued long ago If Sister
Mary could be induced to let her
parade within the walls at ten clock /
st night why wouldn't she go a little /
further and open the gates to her?
some conservatives would have |
stopped to analyze bit, but Mr. |
Yonge didn't There was an American /
rescue her He would mount the wall. /
pull her uD with a rope and then take !
her aboard his yacht He would then |
steam away and who was to
planned out before his impuls-
i've companions got back from |
the bull fight To his great amaze /
ment they were not so impulsive in The /
matter OF rescue IS he had looked for.
They warned him that pulling a good
locking girl out of a Spanish convent
with a rope was in the eyes of the
church and the law an offense rank
ing with murder The girl had ap-
peaIed TO him thinking he was some
ore else and she might not care to be
rescued by him. If he took her from
the convent he might have to cut his
trir, short and carry her to America.
They raised numerous other Objec-
tons, but Mr.. Yonge was ready to op-
pose each and every one of them
That's the way with your cOnserVa-
tive Get him of his balance and
he'll wabble all over creation and be-
come. as set as a mule
When Mr.. Yonge had announced in
cast iron tones that he intended to
rescue the girl single-handed if his
friends were afraid to tackle the job
with him they could do no less than
oner their services. One of them was
sent to buy a rope. another to look for
a ladder. and the third to survey the
wall Yonge himself saw to the pro-
visioning OF the yacht and the over
hauling of her machinery He would
steam out of port the minute the
dannsel was aboard When the night
81 the 14th came all was in readiness
a vehicle was purchased outright in.
stead Of hired. Nothing had transpired
to arouse the suspicious of the people
in the convent and It was looked upon
as a dead-easy thing to make the
rescue.
The night was dark and rainy. It was
the night of all nights TO rescue an
american damsel from Spanish con-
vent Yonge had only two compan-
ions one drove and was to act as
lookout. and the other was to hold the
foot of the ladder and help the rescued
girl to descend without breaking her
neck Not dog bayed nor cat
miauled at the angle of the wall was
reached. II Sister Mary had done her
part. and If Miss Britomarte had not
tainted away while waiting. then five
minutes would see her out of that and
laying plans to give her uncle surprise
49, Thar Nras a feeling Of the harninA