Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-07-26
CHAPTER Xxx.
The Mountebank and the Soldier.

AS the mountebank walked out of
the apartment of the Governors
daughter. he 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 to the floor be-
low, he carried his head a little for
ward, as if intent to catch unwonred
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 a 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
place were indistinctly revealed: A
single stall whose long-eared occupant
turned its head inquiringly at the alb
rupt appearance of companion
lodger; bits of harness and 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 a fastidious
sniff. indicated.
That's your bed A softer one than
you would have had but for the Lady
EliseI"
The prisoner returned no answer,
and in the voice OF a man whose hui
NOR was not of the best, the command
ant uttered a brief command. a mo-
ment OF two the light continued to
pass ftfully about the stable; then it
and the moving shadows vanished; a
key grated in the door, and the sound
of the officers receding~ 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 he
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
! 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 incop-
| siderable aperture into two spaces OF
| impossible 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
OF old masonry. the rod moved slight
"; then more and more, and the pris-
oner, breathing moment hard. girded
nlnsen anew a wrench. q tug, and
the bar, partly disintegrated. snapped
IN the middle, and holding the pieces.
the prisoner fell somewhat violently
/ back Armed now with an innlamen-
that well might serve as a lever. he
nevertheless. paused before endeayor-
ing TO force the formidable fasteninss
OF the blinds; paused to tear of the
I usht-htting clowns cap; to don 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
I hao made but few passes to remove
| the distinguishing marks of paint and
pigment. when q 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 new
paused before the entrance: furaf,led
at the lock, and. with an impatient
exclamation set something down Al
/ the same time the prisoner dropped
his weapon and stopped for the dis
caroed garments; in the dark, they es