Middletown transcript., 1912-09-14

forts OF the lower world. Through it's
use had my lord, the abbot, been ever
enabled to keep full the mighty wine
butts Of his cellars; to provide good
cheer for the tables Of the brethren,
and to brighten his cold stone interiors
with the fresh greens Of Flemish tap
estry, or the sensuous hues of rugs
and fabrics from seraglio or mosque.
Times less ancient had likewise
claimed its services, and even in re-
cent years, by direction Of his Excel
lency, the Governor, had it occasional
ly been used for the hoisting of goods,
wares, or giant casks, OVercumber-
some for men. or mules.
Toward this simple monkish con-
triVance, the SUBMITS rough lift, or
elevator, wherein serfs or henchmen
had walked like squirrels in a cage to
bring solace to generations of isolated
dWellers, the Black Seigneur had at
first stepped impetuously; then
stopped, hardly breathing, to look over
his shoulder at the door that had been
left unfastened. An involuntary ques-
ton flashing through his brain-the
cause Of this seeming carelessness-
found almost immediate answer in his
mind, and the certainty that he stood
not there alone-a consciousness Of
some one else, near, became abruptly
confirmed.
What are you doing, soldier?" A
voice, rough, snarling, drew swiftly his
glance toward a presence, intuitively
OWNED; an understood, grotesque fig
ure that had entered the place but a
few moments before and now appeared
from behind boxes and casks where
he had been about to retire to his
mattress in a corner.
What do you want?" repeated this
person, the anger and viciousness on
his distorted features, revealed In the
moonlight from the large opening, like
that of some animal unwarrantedly
disturbed.
you, landlord of the thieves inn!"
And inactioh giving way to movement
on the intruder's part, knife that had
flashed back In the hand Of the hunch-
back, with his query, was swiftly
twisted from him and kicked aside,
while a scream Of mingled pain and
rage became abruptly suppressed.
Struggling and writhing like a wild
cat, Jacques proved no mean antagon-
list; with strength incredible for one
OF his size, supplemented by the we'll
known agility of his kind, he scratched,
kicked and had managed to get the
others hand in his mouth, when, max
ing an effort to throw off that clinging
burden, the Black Seigneur dashed
the dwarf's head violently against the
wooden support of the place. At once
all belligerency left the hunchback,
and, releasing his hold, he sank to the
ground.
An instant the intruder regarded the
inert form; then, going to the door,
latched and locked it with a key he |
found inside. Having thus in meas
ure secured himself from immediate |
interruption without-for anyone try
ing the door would conclude the wheel
room vacant, or that the dwarf slept |
there or in the store-house beyond
the Black Seigneur walked to the ap- |
erture, and reaching up, began to pay
out the rope from a pulley above. AS
he cid so, with feet braced, he leaned /
over to follow in its descent a small |
car along the almost perpendicular
planking from the mouth of the wheel.
room to the rocks, several hundred i
feet below.
A sudden s1ackening Of the rope
assurance that the car, at the end Of
the line, had reached the loading
spot below without the fortifcations-
and the young man Strengthened; in
an attitude Of attention, stood listen
ing. But the stiffness, impregnated
only with a faint underbreath, the
far-away murmur Of water, or the just
audible droning of insects near the fig
trees on the rocks, continued un-
broken. An impatient frown gathered
on his brow; more eagerly he bent for
ward to gaze down, when through the
air a distant sound-the low, meIan-
choly boot Of an owl-Was waited up
ward.
Upon him at the aperture, this night
call, common to the Mount and its en-
v1rons, acted in magical manner, and
swiftly had he stepped toward the
wheel, when an object, intervening,
stirred; started to stagger to its feet.
At once was the young mans first i'm
pelling movement arrested; but, thus
Porcibly drawn from his purpose, he
did not long pause to contemplate; his
hand, drawing the soldiers sword, held |
It quickly at the hunchback's throat.
"a sound, and you know what to ex-
pect!"
With the bare point at his flesh,
Jacques, DULY hearing, vaguely COM
could, indeed, guess and
The fingers he had involuntarily raised
to push the bright blade aside, fell.
while at the same time any desire to
attempt to call out, or arouse the
guard, was replaced by an entirely diff
'erent emotion in his aching brain.
Never before had he actually felt that
sharp touch-the prelude to the final
.hrust. At the sting Of it, a tremor
an through him, while cowardice, his
)esetting quality, long covered by
srowl and egotism in his strength and
to terrify, alone shone
rom his uAprepossessing yellow fea-
ures.
You were brave enough with the
oldiers at your beck!" went on a de-
ermined voice whose ironical accents
no wise served to alleviate his
'anic. When you had only a mounte-
'ank to deal with! But get up!" con-
emptuously. and" as the hunch.
'ack obeyed, his crooked legs shaking
q the support of his misshapen frame.