Middletown transcript., 1912-08-10

reached out his arm for glass, to
drink, that the young man again
spoke.
''The palace? The plan of the
Mount? Did you notice? Tell me
something Of it-how it is laid out"
Sanchez swallowed; set down the
glass hard. Eyes, yes! l saw much
"a great deal!" he answered with
eager zest. "Oh, I kept my eyes open,
although 1 seemed not to, and was
mindful Of learning all 1 could"
"Here!" From his pocket the young
man took a notebook; pencil. "Set it
down; everything! know something,
already, from the old monks-the
rough diagrams in their books. You
entered where? Take the pencil
and"
The minutes passed and still San
chez traced; seemed almost to forget
his injuries in his interest in the Ia
Dor. Plan after plan was made; torn
up; one finally remained in the hand
of the Black Seigneur.
"You think" Anxiously the serv-
ant watched his masters face; but the
latter, straight, erect, with keen eyes
fixed, did not answer.
"You think" again began the man
when the ancient time-piece, beating
harshly the hour, interrupted.
eleven o'clock! High tide!" The
Black seigneur pushed back his chair
and rose.
"Good!" Sanchez's alacrity indi-
Gated a quick comprehension Of what
the movement portended.
"You-had better remain here!"
shortly.
"Me?" said the servant with a harsh
laugh. "Me"
"Have you not had enough of my
family-my serYice?" the young 5eig-
neur demanded bitterly.
'Bah!" muttered the other. "The
dog that's beaten springs at the
chance to bite! You go to rescue
your comrades. Twill go with you!"
"Tn which case, death-not ven-
geance-will most likely be your re-
ward!"
81 care mott" stubbornly,
A moment the Black Seigneur re-
garded him; then made a gesture.
"Well, have your way!" He lis
tened. "The wind is in the west"
"a little south Of west" answered
the man.
"a rough night for your boat to
have crossed"
"Oh, I was bound to come! And
If you hadn't been here, I'd have gone
on, on-till found you"
The hand of the young man touched
the others shoulder. "Come!" he
said, and threw open the door.
"You are going in the storm?" The
girl, Nanette, intercepted them.
The Black Seigneur nodded shortly.
'It must be an important mission to
take you to sea on such a night. Why
don't you stay where it's warm and
comfortable? Or" with a laugh, "at
least until Monsieur Gabarie," indi-
eating the corpulent figure intrenched
behind barricade of dishes and bot
ties on a small table near the fire,
"has finished the little puppet play he
is writing"
"It is fnished!" AS he spoke, the
poet rose. 81 had but written curtain
when you spoke. Your wine, fair Ma
nette, hath rarely inspiring quality!"
"Oh, 1 care not for your compli-
ments!" she returned. Your capi-
taine," again studying the Black Seig-
neur with dark sedulous eyes, "has
not found it so much to his liking!
He has neither asked for more, nor
drunk what he ordered; and now
would venture out"
Unmindful Of her words the young
man called to old Pierre.
"Well," she went on, throwing back
her head, "if you lose your ship, come
to me, and-I1l see you have an
other!"
Above in his chamber at the inn,
not long thereafter, the priest, looking
out of the window, saw line of men
file down the narrow stairs; embark
in the small boats from the sheltered
nook where they lay, and later, in the
light of the moon, breaking from be-
tween scudding clouds and angry va
pors, a ship that got under way
glided like a phantom craft from the
heaven and set seaward through the
foam.
(To Be Continued