Mexico Missouri message., 1913-08-21

toward the barracks, some distance to
the right and far below. AS he stood
thus, that which had first attracted
his attenion-the sound Of voice
giving orders--was repeated; at the
same time where had been only dark
ness now shone many windows. while
to the left. near the entrance he had
passed after leaving the stable, lights
began to dance like flrefies.
At these signs Of activity and the
sounds breaking the general quietude,
an exclamation fell from his lips; then,
pausing only a moment TO listen and
observe, he sprang toward the guard.
house. Crossing tho threshold. de.
fined by faint glimmer from a dis
tant corner, he made his way past sew
eral motionless forms, into low pass
age beyond. Here he called out impa-
uently; but from those depths. lead
ing down into the dungeons where his
comrades had gone, no answer was re-
turned. His voice, hollow, hooking.
seemed stifled in a tomb; more loud
ly he shouted: walked farther in, when
an indistinct response was followed by
a pin-point OF light, and, ere long, by
the bearer Of a little lamp, Sanchez.
THE others?" At the head of
dark stairway into which he would In
advertently have plunged, had he gone
farther, the Black Seigneur confronted
the man, as he approached.
They will soon be here" said the
old grrttNutVey fhn cfa nd
walking after his master. who had al
ready turned back toward the guard
room. "Jacques--curse him!"-put-
ting out his light in obedience to a
gesture from the other-"fumbled
with the keys; pretended he couldn't
find the right ones! So II took long
! er to open the doors"
THE prisoners7"
81 left our men working at the last
! dungeon to come on ahead--to let you
know you might soon expect them"
Soon" ironically. may be too late"
You mean"
THE hue and cry Is out! ! have
long been expecting It; | do not un-
derstand why 1t didn't come before;
| uhiNSo u blOhbAtbdhhg lOthCd supt "op
considered safe enough for the
night"
Then some one knew"
Some one?" A bitter laugh was
| quickly suppressed on the young mans
lips. 'Hark! Listen!"
Sounds below! the soldiersl" ex-
claimed Sanchez. and started toward
! ha rt-tnA en- out nr1y m foil
quickly back.
What is it?" With his hand on the
others shoulder, the Black Seigneur
whispered the question.
"a face! At the window"
so soon? The hounds are quicker
than thought! Or" drawing his
sword. ut may be only one or two in
advance. In that case"
But no enemy, single or plural, met
their view, either in front, or at the
side Of the guard-house; only thu
darkness, void. empty, and the bare
rampant wall winding around the heaC
of the Mount like a monster guardian
dragon. asleep at his post.
Here is no one!"
mo one! Yet am sure saw"
"A shadow" answered the other
And we have nothing worse to fight!'
Some one was there. Seigneur.
stubbornly, "and hed!"
"Eh bien! He's gone!"
He? 1t looked like "a"
Back with you, quick! Is this ;
time for talk? Call those who cal
come-if they would save thei
necks!"
Here they are now" exclaimed th'
servant. and. as he spoke, the first o
their men, blowing out the light h
carried, ran quickly across the guard
chamber and into the open air. 9th
ers hastily followed, until the gather
ing. swelled by those brought witt
them from the dungeons, stood ex
pectantly before the little stone struC
ture.
"All the prisoners are here?"
AN"
ITO the wheel-house, then!"
But as they fastened across tn
square and into the narrow way. tn
Black Seigneur again spoke to tn
man just anehu'
THE hunchback?"
I'VE left him below. locked up Il
the Devils Cage!"
The Devils Cage! Quelle bonn
plaisanterie! Although" looking bach
1T may cost US dearl"
And indeed. behind the sound OF puI
suit came nearer; the clatter Of so
ders' feet grew louder, until, reachin
the little square and the guard-housC
all tumult suddenly ceased. me-
mentary silence, strange, ominoul
was broken by a din OF voices, as tn
faring here and there OF torche
threw grotesque reflections hig
against the grim background Of blac
masonry.
To those now within the wheel-roou
the cause OF that abrupt clamor wa
not difficult 10 divine; his Excellency
soldiers had found the sentinels owe