The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-12

the bar. partly disintegrated. snapped
IN the middle. and holding the pieces.
the prisoner fell somewhat violently
back. Armed now with an implement
that we'll might serve as a lever. he.
nevertheless, paused before endeavor.
Ing to force the formidable fastenings
or the blinds; paused to tear off the
tght-htting clowns cap; to doff the
costume OF the mountebank covering
the rough, dark garments beneath, and
vigorously to rub his face with somo
mixture he took from his pocket. He
had made but few passes to remove
the distinguishing marks Of paint and
pigment, when sound without, in the
distance, caused him to desist.
Footsteps, that grew louder, were
coming his way, and, gripping his bar
tighter the prisoner grimly waited:
out soon his grasp relaxed. The sound
was that Of single person, who now
paused before the entrance; fumbled
at the lock. and, with an impatient
exclamation. set something down. At
the same time the prisoner dropped
mis- weapon and stopped for the dis.
caroed garments; In the dark, they es.
capped him and he was still searching.
when the bolt. springing sharplyback,
caused him to straighten.
Are you there, Monsieur Mounte-
Dank!" The door swung open; an un.
certain light cast sickly rays once
more within. and beneath the lantern.
raised above his head, innocent OF the
danger he had just escaped, the round
vlsage OF the good-natured soldier who
had escorted the mountebank to the
auberge des voleurs looked amicably
and inQuiringly into the darksome
hovel.
Yes; what do you want?" the an.
swer came more curt than courteous.
What do I want?" the fellow re-.
peated with broad smile. Nov that's
good! Perhaps it would be more to
the point to ask what do you want?
And here" indicating a loaf and Jug
IN his hand, i've got them, though
why the commandant should have
cared. and ordered them brought
He did," said the prisoner, with a
nash OF quick surprise. well, I'm not
hungry, but you can leave them"
mot hungryf" And the soldier.
VINO seemed little the worse for
liquor, but more friendly In conse-
Quence, walked IN. II don't wonder.
though" he went on, closing the door.
hanging his lantern above and plac-
Ing the jug on the ground; I'm such a
foul hole? What you need, comrade,
is company. and" touching Significant.
~ his breast. something warmer than
nows from the spring Of st. Aubert."
Il tell you," began the mountebank,
when the soldier, staring. got a fair
look at the other for the first time and
started back.
"Eh? What's this?"
"Oh. took them of! You don't sup
pose I'd sleep in my white clothes in
such dirty"
Right you are, contradict" re-
turned the other, seating himself be-
fore the door on q three-lcgged stool
he found In a conner. But for the
moment you gave me a start. I
thought you some other person."
What .person?"
mo one In particular. You might"
unbuttoninv his coat to draw forth q
bottle, have been any one! But dare
say you have had them off in worse
places than this-which, after all, is
not bad, compared to some Of the
! rooms for guests at the Mount"
You meah?" The ,mounteback
looked fret at the closed blinds: then
at the door, and sudden determine.
ton came to his eyes.
Those especially prepared for the
followers Of the Black Seigneur, taken
prisoners near CasQue, for example!"
"They are dungeons?"
with jacques for keeper! The lit.
tie sexton, we call him. because the
prisoners go generally from the cells
to the pit, and the quicklime is the
hunchback's graveyard"
This Jacques" A growing impa-
tience shone ominously from the pris-
oner's glance; his attention, that Of q
man straining to catch some expected
sound without, focused itself on the
speaker "This Jacques-what sort Of
quarters has hep
"Oh. he lives anywhere; every.
where! Sometimes at the thieves
Inn; again In one Of the storehouses
I