The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-06-21


every detail He will use persuasion.
He will play upon her fears. For that
purpose he will unlock the slab to
show her the death road she is to take
tomorrow. He will probably attempt
to take her even without her consent.
or he might kill her II she refuses him
too contemptuously Whether he sue
ceeds or not. he has no Intention or
going to the king. He will leave the
fortress with her and go straight to
the city gate. He will go the way you
must have gone the night you escaped.
A boat is lying hard by the great rock.
He will cross the river and before
dawn will be In the woods which lie
to the south. There Is woodcutters
cottage there. and horses will be wait
ing for him."
HE means to leave Drussenlandr'
I asked
Organ smiled.
mo. Tomorrow the revolution will
commence. Half the city Is vascas
already"
1.-THE princess will not consent"
said after pause.
yet vasca must succeed tonight"
said Organ slowly. 1.-THE vasca ! am
thinking of. The count will be alone
with the princess and will have the
keys of the dungeon. You will enter.
and you will kill him. Take his cloak
and hat and sword Then drag his
body to the slip and let 1t 60. Use ex-
petition. Open the door and walk out
Of the fortress. Do not speak II you
can help It Your voice might betray
you. AS you go through the city you
will be watched. but have no fear.
They will be watching to see that you
come to no harm They are your
friends. The city gate will open for
you at sign. and you are free to
make the best Of your way to the
woodcutter's cottage. | shall be wait
ing there with horses"
"And afterwardT
Sunless you are delayed. by dawn we
should be well on our way toward the
place where you entered this Internal
country. We must trust to luck to find
the way out Now do you thoroughly
understand"
Yes. When do go?"
you will presently hear the guard
changed in the corridor without Then
tie your rope securely and descend.
Here is sword. See that you do not
drop it as you go down. Do not 60 be-
fore your time or you will ruin every
thing. Don't be too courteous with
Vasca. Once he hired an assassin to
stab you in the dark; just remember
that and STAY him as you would q
mad dog. Now I must CO."
We grasped each others hand, and
he left me.
Suddenly heard the guard changed
The time had come. and my heart beat
faster. l waited until the sound Of
the mems measured tread had died
away down the corridor. and then
went to the slab. A dozen fears took
hold Of me at that moment Indeed.
my hand trembled as I put the key
into its hole.
1t turned easily, and the next mo-
ment I had raised the slab.
The dungeon was pitch dark. had
to be careful not to slip into the hole.
could hear the swish of the river far
below me-a noisy sound 1t was, COM
ing up through the shaft
I found the ring. and to 1t tied the
rope. tested the security of the knots
at least half dozen times before
let the rope go. 1t swung out to its
length with a jerk. I fastened the
sword tightly round me. and then
stood for a moment II was a short
prayer I muttered-too short. perhaps.
for the great matter was entering
upon. but it was an earnest one. Then
! sat upon the edge of the slip and.
grasping the rope with both hands. let
myself go. dropping to my full length.
II was the way that only dead men
took. yet |. living one. was about to
take it.
1t had seemed pitch dark in the dun
geon. yet hung in greater blackness
and could discern the opening above
my head. wasted no time now I had
begun my journey. II was simply
matter of sliding down the slip and
steadying myself by the rope. This
was easy enough.
must have traversed nearly the
fifty feet of rope. yet my feet had al
ways met the wall. I had come to no
other hole. no other slip joining the
main shaft. Hand over hand went
down. first feeling the rope with my
feet to make certain that i was not at
the end Of IT. then feeling the wall. not
TO miss the opening sought for.
Hand over hand. then my feet dan
Cling below me-there was no more
rope. For an instant | felt inclined to
let go and fall TO death. so ending my
troubles. Then | went up hand over
hand In desperate haste. and. having
got the rope between my knees again.
hung. swinging. and steadied myself
70 think. Either | had missed the hole
Dr. Organ was mistaken: the rope was
aot long enough. Perhaps II was be-
'ause the first solution was the most
fnH n Ia shae knlt a. l.