Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-22

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 "They arc, sir" SE. .T2yyHsyzEI, T2yy E,
 T need you 70 more.."
 May. I'm not oppressed with ia. tigue." said Rupert.
 Pray, sir, leave tis," said Michael more impatieEtiy. Tn ten minutes the drawbridgc will ha drawn back, and l presume you have no wish to swim to your bed"
 Eupert's figure disappeared. heard the door opan and shut again. Mi. chnel and Antoinet.e de Mauban were left together. To my chGgrin, the duke laid bis hand OF the window and closed 1t. He stood talking to Antoinette for | moment or two She shook her head, and he turned impatiently away. She left the window. The door sounded again, and Black Michael closed the shutters.
 De Gautet, De Gautet, manw sound ed from the drawbridge. Unless you want a bath before your bed, come along!' %
 It was Rupert's voice, coming from the end of the drawbridge. A moment later he and De Gautet stepped out on the bridge. Rupert's arm was through De Gautet's, and in the middle of the bridge he detained his companion and leaned over. dropped beside the shel- ter of Jacobs ladder.
 Then Master Rupert had a little sport. He took from De Gautet bot tie which he carried and put it to his lips.
 Hardly drop.' he cried discontent- edly and flung it in the moat.
 It fell, as I judged from the sound and the circles on the water, within a yard of the pipe. And Rupert, taking out his revolver, began to shoot at it. The first two shots missed the bottle, but hit the pipe. The third shattered the bottle. I hoped that the young rufian would be content, but he emp tied the other barrels at the pipe, and one, skimming over the pipe, whistled through my hair as crouched on the other side.
 Ware bridge" voice cried, to my relief.
 Rupert and De Gautet cried, "A mo- ment" and ran across. The bridge was drawn back, and all became still. The clock struck quarter past 1. I rose and stretched myself and yawned.
 I think some ten minutes had passed when I heard a slight noise to my right. I peered over the pipe and saw dark figure standing in the gateway that led to the bridge. It was a man. By the careless. graceful poise guess ed it to be Rupert again. He held sword in his hand, and he stood mo- tionless for minute or two. Wild thoughts ran through me. On what mischief was the young f1end bent now? Then he laughed low to him. self; then he turned his face to the wall. took step in my direction and, to my surprise, began to climb down the wall. In an instant I saw that there must be steps in the wall; 1t was plain. They were cut into or affixed to the wall at intervals of about eight cen inches. Rupert set his foot on the lower one. then he placed his sword between his teeth. turned round and noiselessly let himself down into the water. Had it been a matter of my life only I would have swan to meet him. Dearly would I have loved tc fight it out with him then and there with steel-on fine night and none to come between us. But there was the king. I restrained myself, but I could not bridle my swift breathing. and I watched him with the intensest eager ness.
 He swam leisurely and quietly across There were more footsteps up on the other side. and he climbed them. When he set foot in the gateway, standing on the drawn back bridge. he felt in his pocket and took something out. I heard him unlock the door. could hear nc noise of its closing behind him. He vanished from my sight.
 Abandoning my ladder-I saw I did not need # .now--I swam to the side If the Driign and climbed halfway up thc steps. There I hung. with my sword in my hand. listening eagerly. The cuta's rocp was shattered and dark. There wes '!sht ;l the win Cow cn the opposite side of the bridge Not soaui broke th. silence till ha:f past 1 chirned rom the great cloes in !hc tower of -he chateau.
 rhe-c were o:her plots thea mine afoo. .n t5e castle that nigr,.