Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-06-05
CHAPTER Xxx.

Tho Mountebank and the Soldier.
As the mountebank walked out OF
the apartment of the Governors
daughter, ne drew himself up with an
air Of expectancy, like a man prepar.
ing for some sudden climax. Once be-
yond the threshold, his eyes glanced
furtively back at the closed door, and,
descending the stairs 70 the floor be-
low, he carried his head a little for
ward, as if intent to catch unwonted
sound or cutlery. But no raised voice
or unusual noise reached his ear. and
his footsteps. as the party issued forth
into the street, responded briskly to
the soldiers pace. Still with the same
air of strained attention. now mingled
with trace Of perplexiiy, he followed
his guard until called upon to stop.
"You are to sleep here!' AS he
spoke, the commandant opened the
door Of what seemed low out-build.
ing, not very far from the general bar
racks, and motioned the mountebank
to enter. The latter, after glancing
quickly at the speaker and the sol
diers behind, bent to step across the
dark threshold, and, still STOPPING, on
account Of the low roof. looked around
him. BY the faint glimmer OF light
from a lantern one Of the soldiers
held, the few details Of that squalid
place were indistinctly revealed: A
single stall whose long.eared occupant
turned its head inquiringly at the alb
rupt appearance Of a companion
lodger; bits Of harness and number
of traps hanging from pegs on the
wall, and, near the door, on the
ground, bundle Of grass, rough fod.
der from the marshes close by the
shore. This last salt-smelling heap,
the officer, peering in with a fastidious
sniff. indicated.
That's your bed! A softer one than
you would have had but for the Lady
Elise!"
The prisoner returned no answer,
and in the voice Of man whose hui.
NOR was not Of the best. the command
ant uttered o brief command. A mo-
ment or two the light continued to
pass fitfully about the stable; then 1t
and the moving shadows vanished; g
key grated in the door, and the sound
of the officers receding footsteps was
followed by the diminishing clatter Of
mems heels on the tagging stone. Not
until both had fairly died away In the
distance and the silence was broken
only by certain indications Of FESTIVE
ness from the stall. did the prisoner
move.
First, to the door, which he tried
and shook; then, avoiding the pile OF
fodder. to the wall. where, feeling
about the rough masonry with the
energy Of one who knew he had no
time to spare, his hands, ere long,
encountered the frame of small win
dow. Any qualification, however, he
might have experienced thereat found
its Offset In the subsequent discovery
that the window had heavy iron blinds,
closed and fastened, and was further
guarded by a single strong bar set
in the middle, dividing the one incon-
siderable aperture into two spaces Of
impossible dimensions. But as if
spurred by obstacles to greater exer-
tions, feroely the man grasped the
metallic barrier, braced himself, and
put forth his strength. In its setting
OF old masonry, the rod moved slight
ly; then more and more, and the pris-
oner, breathing moment hard, girded
himself anew. A wrench, tug, and
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 lever, he,
nevertheless, paused before endeavor-
ing to force the formidable fastenings
Of the blinds; paused to tear off the
tight-atting clowns cap; to doff the
costume Of the mountebank covering
the rough. dark garments beneath. and
vigorously to rub his face with some
mixture he took from his pocket. He
had made but few passes to remove
the distinguishing marks Of paint and
pl6lu6ul, SOUuu NlluOul, III l1lC
distance, caused him to desist.
Footsteps. that grew louder, were
coming his way, and, gripping his bar
tighter the prisoner grimly waited |;
but 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
his weapon and stopped for the dis
carded garments: in the dark, they es
capped him and he was still searching
when the bolt. springing sharply back
caused him to straighten.
Are you there, Monsieur Mounte
bank?" The door swung open; an I'm
certain light cast sickly rays once
more within, and beneath the lantern
raised above his head, innocent CT the
danger he had just escaped, the round
visage Of the good.natured soldier whe
had escorted the mountebank to the
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