Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-12-28
WITH = As: Story ,z, 9th:
TIIE n ~ Conspiracy by
i l1E ~ j Burton Egbert
Copyright BY --1 B 1ppncut Company Stevenson
the message to me
]. B. Lippincott Company

repeated the message to me.
I "a the slaps out again In q mo-
ment.
THAT provides tho rope" said,
looking down into the dukes excited
face. Now 1t Ia for me to remove the
bar. 1t will make some noise. Do you
listen for the sentry and warn me
when he approaches"
Richelieu nodded and turned away
to listen at his door.
went to the window and examined
1t bar by bar. Mono Of them showed
any sign Of weakness. but at one end
OF the second bar from the bottom there
was q little crack In he cement. I
must have something to use as q chisel.
But what3 My eyes fell upon the stove.
It was falling to pieces. and I wrenched
would do admirably for a maui. But
for q chisel must have something
with a point-why not n OF the
clamps which held 1t to the wall?
They had been driven Into the cement,
how far I could not guess. l chose the
one which seemed g little loose and
using the piece of iron for a lever,
managed 70 start II: a second wrench.
q third-and I had 1t out. 1t q a
sorry chisel. but must do. in want of
something better. I muffled my hand
kerchief about the piece Of iron In
order to deaden the noise as much as
possible and attacked the cement about
the bar. I saw that l could chip 1t
away a little at a time.
So l totled on through the afternoon,
Richelteu warning me when the sentry
approached along the corridor. 1t was
weary work, yet my heart was light.
for l had soon made a considerable I'M
preston and knew I should succeed.
MY arms were aching and my hands
were torn and blistered. but az eve
ming came one end of the bar was loose
ana ! felt that I could pull It out. ]
topped work then, told Richelieu of
my success and carefully gathered up
the cement which l had loosened, threw
1t under the floor and slipped the stones
back into place. I drove the clamp bacl,
into the wall, replaced the piece Of
stove and threw myself upon my bench
to rest.
footsteps approaching. The door
opened and q man appeared upon the
Inreshold carrying my supper. and
l caught q glimpse Of the guard
standing In the dark corridor behind
him. He placed the food upon the
moor, went out again and returned in
q M with a cloak, which he threw
upon the chair n withdrew without
q word, boiling the doors behind
MN. caught up the cloak and saw
with satisfaction that It was q strong
and heavy one. But before I set 10
work upon It I turned, to the food. A
squar OF bread, a piece Of meat,
anothef OF chaese. and a bottle Of vile
wine was all; but I was In no mood
TO quarrel with it. for I had eaten
noenlng since morning. and soon de-
voured 1t to the last morsel. Then I
tore n cloak into broad strips and
twisted and knotted them together. At
the END or half an hour l had q strong
p not less than 20 feet in length. <
tap on the floor told me that Richelieu
mad also completed his task. and I sat
down to wait for darkness.
1t was not long in coming. and 40
soon as I saw from. my window hat
night had fallen in earnest. I rai.a5
the slabs and pulled Richelieu I'm ha-
side me. Then I dropped the stones
back into place, so that. when our ass
cape was discovered, u means 80
communication might not be too read
NY disclosed. Richelieu had brought
With him the rope which he had made
and l knotted both ends Of It to mine
making q great loop. Then I sprang to-
the window and wrenched out the boz
are ready" I said, and I felt
my arms trembling with excitement.
hell reached out and wrun1 INV
hand. NY
Il will go first" he said.
NO, no!" ! cried. and before he could
prevent me I had pushed my body he
tween the bars and was clinRinR 70 the
sill without. s"e