Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-12-21

tapOl ~ lllltIlklIlCA u CD IlSll 40 ~
WAS ever illumined. and l perceived
two or three melancholy p~ersonages
walking slowly up n down. each in
charge of a sentry, who followed close
ly with loaded musket and permitted
no word to be exchanged. Three lofty
towers thanked the court on either side.
They were fully 100 feet in height.
as were the walls between them, and
the court itself was near 100 feet
long. by perhaps 20 in width. We We're
led straight on across another draw
bridge into a second court. much small
er than the first. and which resembled
nothing so much as Il gigantic we'll.
AS I afterwards found out. 1T was. in
deed. called the we'll court.
Il trust l nay have my old room
monsieur observed Richelieu. as we
entered this f%orbidding place, which
made my heart sink within me.
II see nothing against it," answered
Maison-Rouge. The Tower du Puts
IS Certainly strong enough to hold even
the Due de Richelieu."
That has been proved" laughed the
duke. since 1t has already held me for
complain Of YOU hospitality, mon
sieur."
The governor smiled g,1mly, but said
nothing. | wondered how my COM
panion could laugh SO lightly in this
horrible place.
And you are not even curious to
know what brought me here again?"
he continued. in the same tone.
Some act of folly. I do not doubt"
said Maison-Rouge. his face clearing
a little. You Will never learn dis
cretion."
"Ah. but this is far less serious"
cried Richelieu. Before. I offended
who was trying to turn Louis into a
monk and the court into a priory. This
time / have merely Killed one of Thu
regents friends. The regent is q man,
and will soon forgive"
II trust So" and Maison-Rouge
glanced at him with a shadow of q
smile. II have no reason to wish you
Ill. NJ. ie Due" Evidently, the vim
ming good humor OF my companion had
touched even this enfortressed heart.
There was a tower at either corner of
the II court, and it was towards the
one at the right that we were led: A
door with double bolts barred the bot
tom of the staircase. The governor
threw them back. opened the door, and
motioned us before him. l heard the
regular step of a sentry in tho corri-
dor above. and we passed him at the
US %inquiringly. and then continued his
round. At tho third landing. Maison-
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
opened and held back.
"Ah, l am familiar with this rOom."
said Richelieu. smiling as he passed
into 1T. 1 started to follow him, but
Maison-Rouge motioned me back.
What! you would separate me from
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 ! n the calotte above you"
2 AS he spoke l fancied l caught a
4 flash of triumph in Richelieu's eye,
but he made no sign.
"Good-by. then. my friend" he said,
and turned away towards the double
barred window. The doors We're
was motioned to mount to the floor
above. ] did so with q heavy heart.
With Rlchelieu l had some hope. but
without him l 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, I
entered, and heard the bolts shot into
place. AS / looked back at 1t | saw
that in both doors. near the top there
was IL narrow orifice through which
; the sentry in the hall could inspect
. the cells as he passed and hear what
was going on in them.
The calotte was well named, for it
was Il ShuAL-SdP li0GCu. ia IN III
there was room to stand upright. but
= tho roof sloped on either hand until at
the walls 1t was scarce two feet from
, the floor A bench, a chair. and q
9 rickety stove clamped to the wall
comprised the furniture.
. ] threw myself upon the bench.
, when q sudden thought brought me to
= my feet as by Il spring. For this was
the night uron which Richelieu was to
meet Mile. de Valois. That he should
= fail to do SO would be monstrous.
= not tomorrow or next week, but at
!, once. today, within six or eight hours
at the ,ttermost. I groaned aloud.
! How to escape from this internal hole?
I sprang to the window and tried the
: bars. They were ccmented fast into
:. the masonry. The strength of the
r door / already knew. and l ran over
in my mind the barred gates and raised
, drawbridges we must pass before we
J should be without the walls. I gazed
I out through tho bars at the broad
I sum-. II cursed tie chance that had
. thrown us here. upon this day of all
days. ] heard the regular step of the
e sentry in the corridor. as much a
prisoner as ourselves until the watci,
e was changed. 1t came nearer, paused
before my door. and then retreated.
All was still.
Suddenly l heard q faint tapping as
of some n e~ndeavoring to signal me.
e I locked around trying to locate the
3 sound. l approached the corner from
!: louder. I dropped to my knees and
I crcwled yet nearer the wall.
! DE Blancas." I heard a voice call.
seemingly. a great way off. ..De