The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-12-14

The governor smiled gr1mly, but said
panion could laugh so lightly in this
horrible place.
Ana you are not even curious TO
know what brought me here again?"
he continued, in the same tone.
Some act Of folly, / 40 not doubt"
said alison Rouge, his face clearing
a little. You VIII never learn dis
CretiUn.'
"Ah, but this is far less serious"
cried Ricl'elieu. Before, | OFFENDED
the prudery OF Madame de Maintcnon.
who was trying to turn Louis into {
monk ard the court into q priory. This
time ! have merely Killed one of the
regents friends. The regent is a main,
and will soon forgive"
Il trust So" and Maison- Rouge.
glanced at him with a shadow Of a
i'll, NJ. le Due" Evidently, the WIN
ming good humor OF my companion had
touched even this enfortressed heart.
There was q tower At either corner Of
the inner court. and II was towards the
one at the right. that we were led. A
dOor with double bolts barred the bet
tom Of the staircase. The governor
threw ttCfIi bdCk, ODelCu the CtOT, ana
motiCnrd us before him. heard the
re gu!ar step Of a sentry in the corri-
dor above. and we PASSED him at the
first Landing. He paused to glance at
us frquiringly, and then continued his
round. At the third landing, Mason
Rouge STOPPED before a heavy iron
door, threw back the bolts and pulled
it open. Another inner door was re-
vealed, similarly bolted. This he also
Opencd and held back.
"Ah, | am familiar with this ROOM"
said Richelieu. smiling as he passed
into il. | started to follow him. but
Maison-Rouge motioned me back.
what! you would separate me frsm
my friend?". cried Richelieu.
Il regret that it is necessary, mon
sieur,' said the governor; but 1t is
the rule, as you should know. He
shall lodge in the calotte above you"
| AS he spoke | fancied ! caught a
flash Of triumph in Richelieu's eve,
but he made no sign.
"Gcod-ty, then, my friend" he said.
and turned away towards the double
Barred window. The doors were
changed shut, the bolts thrown, and /
was motioned to mount to the floor
above. L did so with a heavy heart.
| With kichelieu i had some hope, but
without him | felt hope to be fruit
less. Presently we paused before an
other door, double bolted like that on
the floor below. Behind 1t, also, there
was an inner door. 1t was opened, /
entered, and heard the bolts shot into
place. AS; looked back at 1t saw
that in both doors, near the top there
was a narrow orifice through which
the sentry in the hall could inspect
the cells as he passed and hear
was going on In them.
The calotte was well named, for 1t
was u skull-cap indeed. In the center
! therc was room to stand upright. but
the Roof sloped on either hand until at
| the r'alls 1t was scarce two feet from
the floor. A bench, a chair, and a
rickety stove Clamped to the wall
! comprised the furniture.
/ threw myself upon the bench.
when a sudden thought brought me to
my feet as by a spring. For this was
the night uron which Rlchelieu was to
meet Mile. de Valois. That he should
fail to do so would be monstrous.
ESCAPE, then, was necessary--escape,
not tomorrow or next week, but at
once, today, within six or eight hours
at the uttermost. l groaned aloud.
How to escape from this internal hole?
bars. They were cemented fast into
the masonry. The strength Of the
door l already knew, and / ran over
In my mind the barred gates and raised
drawbridges we must pass before we
should be without the walls. I gazed
out through the bars at the broad
country. bright under the rays Of the
sun, and cursed the chance that had
thrown US here, upon this day of all
days. ] heard the regular step Of the
sentry in the corridor, as much a
prisoner az ourselves until the watch
was changed. 1t came pearer, paused
before my door. and then retreated.
All was still.
Suddenly l heard a faint tapping as
Of some one endeavoring to signal me.
I looked around trying to locate the
sound. approached the corner from
which it seemed to come. 1t grew
louder. I dropped to my knees and
crowded yet nearer the wall.
de Brancas," l heard a voice call,
seemingly a great way off. de
Brancas, are you there?"
Eyes, yes" painted. But where are
you. monsieur" for I could not be-
iieve that a human voice could pene-
trate these walls Of stone.
TN n cell below yours, as you
know" replied the voice. DO you
know we must escape tonight?"
Yves, yes" l answered again, still
more astonished that I could ear his
voice SO clearly. "The tryst at the
dryad fountain"
"You are q jewel, de Brancas!" cried
the duke. YES. we must escape and
It once. There is no time TO lose"
But to escape" I said, 1T Is neces-
sary 10 pass through seven barred gates
md across three raised drawbridges.
That is no easy thing. Have you a
plan, monsieur"
"a plan? No. But let me come to
you and we will find a plan"
lie you come to n" OF cried. in
9mazement. GLADLY, but how"
7 could hear him laughing to him
self.
Continued Next Weekly
The Strined Rivera Of South Amerina.