Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-15
CHAPTER III.
His Royal Highness.

distinguished visitor and the prisoner who
polished brass railing. Beside them an
official was droning q particularly mo-
notonous and dreary account OF the insti-
tuition. his eyes half-closed with the men
tai exertion OF recollection, his thoughts
turned inward and absorbed. There were
several gentlemen and officers OF the
building in the bare room. chatting with
one another in varying degrees of bore
dom and interest, and completely ignoring
the quiet prisoner who had been John AL
lard. Yet he was. perhaps, the only one
present, with the exception of the man
facing him, who escaped the common
place.
You have something to say" Ques-
toned the grave, lustrous dark eyes OF
the visitor: eyes southern In their long
dashed softness, northern In their direct
ness.
And Allards gray eyes returned assent
with an utter calm, which overlay the
surface of tragedy.
ION the east bank of the Hudson. six
miles above Tarrytown.'' went on the
droning voice of the official then broke
as the visitors cool, slightly imperious
tones fell across the monologue:
"Ah, and is it permitted to speak with
your inmates. il one has the fancy?
The official stared, but smiled vaguely.
Certainly, sir; IL you WISH. he replied.
Again the eloquent chances Of the other
two crossed.
You have much of this work." quer-
led the visitor the words scarcely needed
either by speaker or listener in the deeper
search for a means of communication.
Allard answered in French. the fluent,
barely accented French of a Travelled
American:
THAT man in gray who accompanies
you, monsieur the man near the win
dow, is not to be trusted. He was re-
leased from this place last year. after
serving a term for his share in some
Paterson anarchistic outrages. He Is dan
gerous and he watches you constantly.
The visitor was trained to self-control;
he did not commit the mistake of looking
toward the man in question. But he
could not quite check the flash OF blended
emotions which crossed his own express
sion.
Thank you,'' he said. And after an in
slant, II thought / recognized you when
I saw you on entering: now you have
spoken, l am certain. Yet
Allard flushed from throat to temples.
the color dying out again to leave even
his lips white. But his reply was stead
lily given.
There is no one here whom you know.
monsieur, or who knows you. Even a
prison has it's courtesies. Turn your head
away and go past" he said
Would you have done SO, finding a
friend in such a strait?'
~ have no friends
lHeI WHY ufu you HdiH lug 06dhioS
Dancla, my anarchistic secretary yon-
der?
The question was unexpected and left
Allard momentarily disconnected.
Confess we knew each other very well
five years ago." the visitor added, gently,
and paused to consider.
A few PAGES off the official stood stu
pidly enjoying the respite from exertton;
placidly Indifferent to an Incompetent
sible conversation inspired by q within of
he The Ofhor three fOilY
were admiring the view from window
facing the river and listening to their
cicerone.
1T wish you would go away, monsieur"
Allard said only, when he had recovered
perfect command of himself.
BE patient with me yet q moment. We
were both avowedly masquerading during
those weeks of boyish frolic at Palermo;
do you know who amT'
mo more than I knew then-that you
were a European, and evidently Of. posi-
ton"
You have more liberty than some of
those here, I think"
Yes; 1 am what they call trusty';
the straight line between the fine brows
deepened markedly.
81 beg your pardon; l do not ask from
curiosity. My yacht Is anchored before
this place-if I return through here in an
s sHHis =" my "A' - " con '
Allard hesitated.
II believe so. but I would prefer not.
can aid you no further, and
"And?'
For an instant the curtain was with
drawn from the prisoners clear eyes.
You wake what is better asleep. 1t Is
not pleasant for me to meet you, mon
sieur''
The visitor caught his breath. 1t came
to him with a shock Of realization that
many days and nights might pass before
he could forget that straight glance OF
quivering pain and humiliation, OF proud
ly endured hopelessness.
Yet I ask it," he insisted.
VERY well. If I am not here it Will be
because it was not possible.
The visitor turned away with well as
sumed carelessness.
fellow-countryman," he remarked to the
official, in passing on. But he appears
to be French"
Eyes. sir. He said he came from the
south at his trial. :.
The man had necessarily kept beside
the visitor to reply, and they walked
down the room SO together.
What is he here for?" came the idle
inquiry.
.'Counterfeiting, sir. Right over n'that
mountain across the river, they captured
him and killed one Of his comrades. The
rest got away in time, and they never
were found. because this man would tell
nothing. even to save himself. he mlsnt
with a light sentence, for he was young
and not known to the police. But he
wouldn't and he got the whole thing he-
row. his name is. The officers who cap
tured him believe he never meant to be
taken alive: for they found him uncon-
scious, with a little pistol In his hand.
and they guessed that he tainted before
he could use It. He had to spend weeks
in a hospital before he could be tried,
getting over q broken ankle and some
other worse injuries. But he and his fell
lows had done clever work. no one
knows how much This Leroy might
have been from across the water, as you
say. sir; no one knows him here.
How long has he been here?"
1.-TWO years. sir"
And his sentence!
Fifteen
The visitor shuddered invOluntarily.
Pleased by his interest, the official bright
ened to offer further diversion:
IF you'll come to the inner building.
sir, I can show You some more. We've
some in for life
THANK you" the visitor refused.
brusquely, and moved aside to reJoin his
companions.
The little group fell silent and expectant
at the approach Of the one whose escort
they were. 1t was rather brilliant
group against the somber prison back.
ground. Dancla. 'the man In gray. OF
Aliard's warning, was the only member
not in uniform, with the exception or the
distinguished visitor himself.
IT am going into the town. their chief
announced. pausing before them. with
Dancla. You may return to the yacht
Vasilf send the launch for me In an hour.