Middletown transcript., 1912-09-14
Rs-nERRILLc
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Mountebank and tho Soldier.


daughter, he drew himself up with an
air Of expectancy, like 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 to the floor be-
low, he carried his head a little for
ward, as If intent to catch unwonted
sound or outcry. 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 perplexity, 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
ito 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 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 abb
lrupt appearance Of a companion
Ilodger; bits Of harness and a number
OF traps hanging from pegs on the
wall, and, near the door, on the
ground, a bundle Of grass, rough fod.
der from the marshes close by the
shore. This last salt-smelling heap,
the officer, peering in with fastidious
sniff. indicated.
''That's your bed A softer one than
you would have had but for the Lady
lEliseI"
The prisoner returned no answer,
and in the voice Of a man whose hu-
NOR was not Of the best, the command
ant uttered a brief command. A mo-
ment or two the light continued to
pass ftfully about the stable; then 1t
and the moving shadows vanished; a
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 restive-
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 a small win
dow. Any qualification, however, he
might have experienced thereat found
dts offset in the subsequent discovery
that the window had heavy iron blinds,
closed and fastened, and was further
guarded by single strong bar set
in the middle, dividing the one incon-
siderable aperture into two spaces of
1mpassable dimensions. But as if
spurred by obstacles to greater exer-
tons, hercely the man grasped the
metallic barrier, braced himself, and
put forth his strength. In its setting
or old masonry, the rod moved slight
qy; then more and more, and the pris-
oner, breathing moment hard, girded
himself anew. A wrench, a 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 well might serve as a lever, he,
nevertheless, paused before endeavor.
1ng to force the formidable fastenings
OF the blinds; paused to tear off the
dghthtttng 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
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:
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-
lbauk~ The door swung open; an I'm.
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
Visage Of the good-natured soldier who
had escorted the mountebank to the
auberge des voleurs looked amicably
and inquiringly into the darksome
lhoVel.
"YesI what do you want?" the an.
Fwer came more curt than courteous.
''What do I want?" the fellow re-
peated with broad smile. Now that's
goodl Perhaps it would be more to
khe point to ask what do you want?
And here" indicating loaf and jug
IN his hand, 1--WE got them, though
why the commandant should have
cared, and ordered them brought"
%He did?" said the prisoner, with a
flash Of quick surprise. "Well, I'm not
hungry, but you can leave them"
mot hungry?" And the soldier,
who seemed a little the worse for
liquor, but more friendly in conse-
Quence, walked in. 'I don't wonder,
though" he went on, closing the door,
hanging his lantern above and plac-
ing the jug on the ground; "in such a
foul hole? What you need, comrade,
Is company, and" touching significant
ly his breast, something warmer than
flows from the spring of st. Aubert."
'I 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?"
ooh, took them off! You don't sup.
pose I'd sleep in my white clothes in
such dirty"
Right you are, comrade!" re-
turned the other. sealing himself he.