Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-08-16

(which isrs
ITO visit the dungeons.-
THE dungeons!" Ny lady's face
changed.
And incidentally inspect their lat
est guest! Some OF you heard OF him
when we were here before-Le Seign-
eur Noir-the Black Seigneur."
LIE Seigneur Noir." They clapped
their hands. yes. let us see hims
Nothing could be better. What do
you say. Elise?"
She started to speak. but for the
instant her lips could frame no an
swer; with faint. strained smile, con-
fronted him. when some one antici-
pated her reply.
Did she not leave it to MS? It fe
We who decide"
And a merry party they swept
along. bearing her with them: up the
broad stairway, cold. gray In the
morn; beneath the abbot's bridge
black. spying span!-to the church.
and thence to the isolated space be-
fore the guard-house to the dungeons
Here, at the sound of their voices.
man, carrying a bunch of keys-but
outwardly the antithesis to the bunch
back-peered from the entrance.
Unless am mistaken, the new
Ja1ler!" With a wave of his hand,
the Marquis indicated this person.
The commandant was telling me his
Excellency had engaged one-from BIZ
cetre. or Fort l'Eveque. believer"
"Bicetre. my lord." said the man
gravely. And before that. the Bas-
tile"
"Ah!" laughed the nobIeman- THAT
pretty place some of the foolish
people are grumbling about! AS If
we could do without prisons any more
than without palaces! But we have
come. my good fellow, to inspect this
lower world Of yoursi''
The mans glance passed over the
paper the Marquis handed him; then
silently he moved aside. and unlocked
the iron doors.
Are you not coming?" At the
threshold the Marquis looked back.
When first they had approached the
guard-house, Involuntary had the
Governors daughter drawn aside to
the ramparts; now, with face half
| averted, stood gazing off.
"Coming?" Surprised, the Marquis
noted her expression; the fixed
brightness of her eyes and her parted
lips. ooh, yes!" And turning abrupt
| ly. she fastened past him.
Would they have to be locked in?-
the half-apprehensive query Of one of
| the ladies caused the jailer at first
| to hesitate and then to answer in the
negative. He would leave the doors
from the outer room open, and him
self await there the visitors return
| With which reassuring promise, he
| distributed lights; called a guards
| man. familiar with the intricate un-
foreground passages. and consigned
| them to his care.
One of the gay procession, the Lady
| Elise stepped slowly forward; the
guide proved a laxative fellow, and
seemed anxious to answer their many
| inquiries concerning the place. The
| sale de la question? Yes, 1t existed;
but the ancient torture devices for the
'1nterrogatory ordinary" and the 'in-
terrogatory extraordinary" were no
longer pressed into service; the King
had ordered them relegated to the
| shelves of the museum. The caba-
mons, or black holes? Louis XII. built
| them; the carceres duri and wade in
I pace, however, dated from Saint Maui
ritius, fourth abbot of the Mount.
And the Black Seigneur? How have
you Accommodated him"
| TN the petit exil: just to the left!
| We are going there now"
| Tam going back" A hand
| touched the arm of the Marquis, last
of the file of visitors, and, lifting his
| candle, he held it so that the yellow
glimmer played on the face of the
/ Governors daughter. Her eyes looked
deeper; full Of dread. as if the very
spirit Of the subterranean abode had
| seized her. He started.
Surely you, Elise, are not afraid p
81 prefer the sunlight" she saic
hurriedly in a low tone. Tit is moi
cheerful down here! No; do not cal
the guide-or let the others know. II
return alone, and-wait for you at th<
guard-house.'
. CTo BE CONTINUED)