The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-12-21
CHAPTER N-eGsatii,ae.

loose and can easily be raised"
l was painting with excitement. So
this was how his voice could reach me,
"A momentl" I cried, and my fingers
CROPPED for the loosened slab. It wa.
500 found, but how to raise It was 5
question, for I could get no hold of 1t
In an instant I had torn the buckle
from my shoe and inserted it's edge
into the creek. I pried the stone IN
but a dozen times 1t slipped back before
could arrest 1t. Finally I raised II
half an inch, grasped the edge witt
desperate fingers, and with an effort
which made my muscles crack tilted
1t up. I looked into the hold, but could
see nothing.
The slab is out, monsieur" I called
5000. said Richelieu, and Their
there was an %instant's pause. Now
he went on, at last, "as 1 raise this
other stone do o slide it back out
Of the way
In a moment 1t was done, and I found
myself looking down into his eyes, SO
near they almost startled me, for he
had placed his chair upon his bench
and was standing on it.
'The guard Will be back he said.
Bring your bench to the corner and
lie down upon It,"
I did as he directed, and saw that
he had jumped down from his chair and
was walking, carelessly about his cell.
Again the sentry reached the door,
paused an instant to glance within,
and then went on his round.
p Rlchel1eu was pack upon his chair
In an instant.
minutes visit. I know the routine of
this place" n he held out his hands
to me. l reached down, grasped them,
and he scrambled lightly up beside me.
/ began to think that, after all, es-
cape might not be such a difficult
thing What 0thnr cra 80 tl1 ~n;n~
might he not possess?
"'Tis not the first time 1 nave made
that trip" and he laughed as he
brushed the dust from his sleeve.
when the king sent me here to re-
.pect of that affair at Marty he permit
ted my tutor to accompany me. But
In the evening we were separated, and
he was locked up in this cell to spend
the night. We were both dying of
,,ennui, and determined to spend the
nights together. So with infinite pa
Ettence he picked away the cement
around his slab and the one under 1t.
AS you see, they rest on the Orders and
so remain in place. The guard cannot
see into the cells after night falls, Sc
we We're not disturbed. 1t is fortunate
the rne is dark" HI added, land
that the cracks of the floor are filled
with dirt, else the ruse might have
been discovered since I was last here
"And now what?" 1 asked, trembling
with 1mpattenCe.
Nov to escape" said the duke, and
sat down on the bench to consider.
But to escape, and with only our
bare hands for tools! What a problem!
FYet I was determined that 1t should be
solved. Others had escaped from the
ibastille. Why not we?
Clearly l said, after a moment, we
cannot hope to break DOWN the door
nor penetrate these walls"
My companion nodded in gloomy ac-
iQuiescence.
There remains. then, only one pos
window"
But the bars?"
I'VE must remove one. Luckily they
are single, SO that one will be enough
1T is 80 feet from the ground"
I'VE must get q rope."
"a roper Yes. But where?"
IT do not know" I said, but 1 arose
and went to the window. Yes, it was
not less than 80 feet from the ground
WELL" said Richelieu. at my elbow
had the bar out. What then? Dc yor
not see the court is full OF
soldiers? We could not hope tc
escape them. But even il we
did. there is the outer wall still to pas.
40 feet high and with a sentry a
every 20 PAGES"
I saw what he said vas true. Tt
descend Into the court would be to en-
ter a nest of hornets. But of a sudder
"a new thought came to me.
WELL" I asked, "if one way is i'm.
possible, why not try the other?"
what other, de Brancas?"
"The roof" cried, and | knew l hat
found the key. to the problem. 1T il
yes" and Richelieu looked more
and more astonished. But I do no
vot 1n1erSton nd INV Pr;opl
Wait I said. Let me think
moment and l sat down upon tn,
bench, my head between my hands
Richelieu paced feverlshly up and dow
the cell. At last 1 had 1t.
IN. lie Due" l said, as calmly as
could, for my heart was beating mad
ly, ~ have a plan. 1t is not promising
perhaps, but I believe 1t Is the best tina
offers. I will remove one of the bar
OF the window. We will secure a rope
1 will stand upon the sill without ant
throw the rope over a merton of tn,
battlement. We will mount TO the roo
and after that trust to providence
There must be some way down. and I
these is. We will find it."
Richelieu's eyes were blazing
But can we do all this?" he asked
we must" l said. The most diff
cult thing is the rope 1t must be 20 o
80 feet long, and strong enough to bea
US. II we had our clocks
Il will get our cloaks,' cried Richie
lieu. Il will make the rope. Come,
must return. The guard will soon b
here. Slip the stones into place afte
me-" and he dropped lightly into hi
cell.
| dropped the stones back into plac
and heard him pounding at his door
The sentry answered him.
There is no bedding in this place,
called Richelieu, and 1t will be col
tonight. At least l and my friend shout
have our cloaks. Ask M. de Maison
Rouge II he will not send to my hote
and secure us two good, heavy ones.
The guard went away, but soon cam
back again.
Your request is granted, monsieur,
he said. You shall have your cloak,
ard then he mounted to my door an
repeated the message to me.
l had the slaps out again in a mo
1ilcnt.
That provides the rope" l sale
looking Gown into the dukes excite
face. Nov 1t is for me TO remove tn
Tar Y will make some noise. Do 70