The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-01-09

I nlmseH 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 well might serve as a lever, he,
| nevertheless, paused before endeavor-
ing to force the formidable fastenings
of the blinds; paused to tear off the
tight-ftting 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 a 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 hin 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 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
/ howell.
yes; what do you want?" the an.
/ swer came more curt than courteous.
What do I want?" the fellow re-
| peated with broad smile. Now that's
| good! Perhaps 1t would be more to
the point to ask what do you want?
/ And here" indicating a loaf and jug
/ in his hand, I've got them, though
why the commandment should have
cared, and ordered them brought"
He dido" said the prisoner, with a
flash of quick surprise. We'll, I'm not
hungry. but you can leave them"
Not hungry" And the soldier,
! who seemed a little the worse for
+ liquor, but more friendly in conse-
/ quence, walked in. 81 don't wonder,
/ though he went on, closing the door,
hanging his lantern above and plac-
ing the jug on the ground; I'm such
/ foul hole? What you need. comrade,
! is company, and" touching significant
/ ly his breast, something warmer than
flows from the spring OF st. ALBERT"
Il tell you" began the mountebank,
when the soldier, staring, got fair
look at the other for the first time and
started back.
"Eh? What's this?"
"Oh, | took them off, You doa't sup
. pose I'd sleep in my white clothes in
such dirty"
Right you are, contradict" re-
turned the other, seating himself be-
fore the door on a three-legged stool
he found in corner. But for the
moment you gave me a start.
thought you some other person"
What-person?"
NO one in particular You might"
unbuttoning his coat to draw forth a
bottle, have been any one! But dare
say you have had them off in worse
places than this-which, after all, is
not bad, compared to some of the
rooms for guests at the Mount"
You mean?" The mountebank
looked first at the closed blinds; then
at the door, and sudden determine
ton came to his eyes.
Those especially prepared for the
followers Of the Black Seigneur, taken
prisoners near Casque, for example,"
"They are dungeons?"
with Jacques for keeper! The lit
tie sexton, we call him, because the
prisoners go generally from the cells
to the pit, and the quicklime is the
hunchback's graveyard"
This Jacques" A growing impa-
tience shone ominously from the pris-
oner's glance; his attention, that Of
man straining to catch some expected
sound without, focused itself on the
speaker. This Jacques-what sort of
quarters has he?"
"Oh, he lives anywhere; every
where! Sometimes at the thieves
inn; again in one of the storehouses
hear the wheel They say, though, he
is not great hand to sleep, but pass
es most Of his time like a cat, prowl-
ing in and out the black passages and
tunnels Of the Mount. But" abruptly
breaking off. ''the play-thats what /
want to know about The end! How
did 1t end2"
I'm in no mood for talking"
Take the bottle, an it'll loosen
your tongue!"
mo"
WHAT you refuse?"
"Yes."
Then" philosophically, must
drink alone?"
"Not herei"
chi"
"Will you get out, Or" and the
mountebank stepped toward the other
with apparently undisguised inten-