The Dolores star., 1914-10-09

49, e0s1 1920
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hut Francois refused lightly aAA
laughed ans. fell to singing IN old psas-
ant song Of France which he had ~.
msmbered lately: he rot up on the
table and droned II to an imaginary
fiddle which he pretended to play after
the manner Of old Jacques Arpe. who
played for danccs In vicQues. And the
governor was taken with = violent
fancy for Il. He roAred q II. and sang
II over in fragments tn BE- had learned
II. and then he sang Il and reared
again and slapped his knee: there was
droll comedy In Francois rendering
also. not 10 be explained--and the
count said that Francois must come to
his rooms the next night for dinner
and sing him tho song again and also
listen to new one OF his own.
So Francois was taken down the
stone staircase and conducted to the
two rooms which were the governors
suite. He knew them well. for he had
dined many times with the count hut
tonight he was left alone few mo-
ments In the outer room, the living.
room. while the governor was In the
bedroom, and he looked about keenly
with strained attention which grew
out Of the suppressed hope OF escape,
Who knew what bit OF knowledge OF
the castle might be vital. and who
knew how soon? He noted the swords
and pistols hanging on the wall. and
marked a light saber whose scabbard
was brightly polished az II the blade
also were kept In good order. On the
table he saw the flint and steel with
which Count Won Gersdorf lighted his
pipe: he stepped TO the window and
bent out. scanning the wall A stone
coping. wide enough for . mans foot,
but little more. ran, four feet below:
ten feet beyond the window It ended
In the roof OF shed. q sloping roof
where man could drop down. yes. or
even climb up with ease. A man, that
Ia, who had climbed when . boy n
Francois had climbed-like cat for
certainty and lightness. But what
then. when one was in tho courtyard?
It was walled about with stone wall
sixteen feet high; these old ancestors
Of Pietro. who had built this place. had
planned well to keep Pietro's friend in
prison.
So Francois. not hopeful Of sortie
by that point. drew In his head from
the open window and took to examin-
ing the walls of tho governors room.
There were three doors-one from the
hall by which he had come. one be-
hind which he now heard the count
moving in his bedroom. and . third.
The count had gone through this last
door one night month before. into .
dark. winding, stone staircase, and dis
appeared for three minutes, and
brought up bottle Of wonderful wins.
"A fine stock they put down there
the Italians who ruled here for eight
hundred-odd years." he had said. 1--WE
lowered It bit A good spacious wine
cellar and grand old wine. You viii b
the better for . little" And Francois
had watched him ~ he put the brass
key back on the chain which hung
IRON his belt.
At this point Of memory ths -.
room door opened. and the govsrnor
came out. In great good humor and
ready to sat and drink - became IN
Austrian soldier. The dinner We
brought In. but Francois. for all hi
efforts b % his part. could not swat
low food. Or very little. The fever. he
unrest burning In him. made Il inpos-
sible. Count 0ersdoSf looked at hin
seriously when dinner was over: q
yet Francois. talking. laughing. sing.
ing. had eaten not over half . dosen
mouthfuls.
Certainly you are not wsll." he said.
II think tho doctor should sec you. =
And then he nodded his head and his
small eyes cleaned with . brilliant
thought. Il know . medicine better
than Doctors" He stood up and his
nngerr were working ct the chain Of
keys at his belt. Francois watched
them and saw the thiA. old, brass key
which he slipped Oh. "A bottle Of
wine Of our Italian ancsstors-yours
and mine. Beaupre"-ths count
chuckled-"that will cure you OF your
Ills for this evening at least" He slid
the key into the lock and said. half 10
himself. MY little brass friend never
leaves the belt Of Alhrecht Won Gers
dorf except TO do him . pleasure. bless
him!" And thcn. Hold the candle
Beaupre-well. come along dovn-it
can do no harm and I can't manage .
light and two bottles.~
So Francois followed down the twist
cd. hcadlong. stone staircase and found
himself. after rather . long descent.
holding tho lamp high. gaming curious.
ly about tho walls Of . large stone
room lined with shelves. niled with
bottles.
"A show. Isn't ~" the Count Won
0crsdorf demanded. Here. hold the
light on this side.. and he went on
talking. "Ths wine ID 20 old that
think Il must have been stocked -
fore tho time OF the lest lord Of The
CASTLE
And Francois. holding the light. ~