The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-10-09

In the clif to the right. with some.
thing running down--that looks like
p'a king"
"Oh. that is for the wheel"
"The vheel?'
The erea, wheel of the Mount! II
was built In the time OF the monks,
and was used for"
Hold your tongue!" said the other
soldier, and the trio entered the great
gate, which had o.,ened at their ap-
proach. and now closed quickly he.
hind them.
For the first time In that isolated
domain OF the dreaded Governor, the
mountebank appeared momentarily to
forget his fears and gazed with inter.
est around him. On every side new
and varying details unfolded to the
eye; structures that from below were
etched against the sky in filmy lines.
here resolved themselves into vas,
solid. but harmonious masses.
Those ribbons of color that had
seemed to fall from the wooing sky, to
adorn these heights, proved, indeed,
fallacious; more somber effects, the
black touches of age. confronted TIE
eye everywhere, save on one favored
front-that Of newer period, al
architectural addition whose intricate
carvings and beautiful roses Of ston,
Invited and caught the warmer rays;
whose little balcony held real buds
and flowers. bright spots Of pink dang.
ling from, or nesting at, the windows
edge.
"Yonder looks like some grand
lady's bower" as he followed his &C n
tors past this more attractive edifice.
the mountebank ventured to observe.
Now. perhaps. lives there"
"Hark you. my friend" one of the
soldiers bruskly interrupted: "a piece
,f advice. His Exceuency likes not
babblers. neither does he countenance
gossip; and II you'd fare well, keep
your tongue to yourself!"
"I1l-I1l try to remember" said the
mountebank docilely. but as he spoke.
looked back toward the balcony: az
the cleaning reflection full on its win
dows; then turn In the way cut of
the pleasing prospect, and only the
grim foundations Of tie lofty. heavier
structure on one hand and the mas.
sive masonry ramparts on the other
greeted the eye.
For some distance they continued
along the narrow way, the mounte.
bank bending lower under his load
and observing the injunction put upon
him. until the path. broadening. led
them abruptly on to Q platform where
stone house Of ancient construction
barred their further progress But
two stories In height. this buildirg,
IN alien sdifics amid loftier piles.
stood sturdily perched on q precipi.
tous cli1. The rough stonework Of It's
front. darkoned by time. made It seem
almost q part Of the granite itself, al.
though the roof. partly demolished
and restored. impaired to It an anon.
aious dis'inctness. the bright new 10
-rnmiIent as patches on some dilapi-
dated garment. In its doorway, be-
meath q inonkish inscription. well-nigh
ooliterated. stood . dwarf. or hunch.
back. who. 1ingling q bunch Of great
keys. ill-humoredly regarded the ap-
preaching trio.
What now?" The little mans well
come. a. mountebank and soldiers
came within earshot. was not reassur-
Ing. isn't II enough to make prison
ers OF all the scamps In Christendom
without taking vasabond players into
custodyr
Orders. good Jacques!" said one of
the soldiers in conciliatory tone.
THE cornmandsnt's!"
The commandant!" grumbled the
grotesQue fellow ut is all very we'll"
mimicking: Turn them over to
Jacques. He'll find room II this
Keeps on. Well soon have to make
cages OF confessionals, or turn the
wine-butts In the old cellar into oubli
ettes."
If any Of our ancient flavor fingers
In the casks, your guests would have
little reason to complaint" returned
the other soldier. But this fellow.
he'll make no trouble"
oh. l suppose we'll have to take
care OF him!" muttered the dwarf. "In
the thieves Inn there's always room
for one more!" Obeying the gesture.
at once menacing and imperious, that
accompanied these words. the mounte-
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