Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-25
CHAPTER ".


THE idiot boy somewhere upon the hills
i of Lake George, always in a world OF
fog. VIII, n could not be discovered again.
had often come to my mind during my
journeys. like a self that had shed and
left behind. But Bellenger was a cipher.
/ forgot him even at the campfire Now
here was this poor crazy potter on my
track with vindictlve intelligence, the day
set foot in Paris. Time was not granted
even to set the lodging IN order. He
must have crossed the ocean with as good
speed as Doctor Chantry and Skenedonk
and /. He may have spied upon us from
the port through the barriers, and even
to our mansard. At any rate, he had
found me in a crowd and made use of me
10 my downfall: and could have knocked
my stupid head on the curb as 1 was
hailed away.
One glimpse of Skenedonk 1 caught
while we marched along Rue st. An
toine, the gendarmes protecting me from
the crowd. He thought 1 was going to
the scaffold, where many a strapping fell
low had gone in the Paris OF his youth,
and fought to reach me, laying about
him with his loaf of bread. Skenedonk
would certainly trail me and find a way
to be OF use, unless he broke into trou-
BILE as readily as had done.
neighborhood of palaces, and came by
many windings to a huge pile rearing its
back near a garden place, and there i
was turned over to jailers and darkness.
The entrance was unwholesome. A man
at a table opened a tome, which might
have contained all the names in Parts.
He dipped his quill and wrote by candle
light.
Political offender or common GRIM
ipal?" he inquired.
Political offender" the office answered.
what is he charged WITH:
Trying TO assassinate the Emperor In
his post-chaise,'
la, Ia lal" the recorder grunted. AN
other attempt! And gunpowder put in
the street to blow the Emperor up only
last week Good luck attends him-only
a few windows broken and common peo-
pie killed Taken in the act, as this fell
low?"
with the knife in his hand"
what manner" the recorder inquired.
had thought on the answer and told
him merely that my name was Williams.
''Eh, bien, Monsieur Weeleeum. Take
him to the east side, among the political
offenders" said the master jailer TO an
assistant or turnkey.
But It's full" responded the turnkey.
"Shove him in some place"
They searched me, and the turnkey
lighted another candle. The meagreness
Of my output was beneath remark.
When he had led me up a flight OF
stone steps he paused and inquired.
Have you any money!"
80 much the worse for you"
What is the name Of this prison?"
asked
"ste. Pelagie," he answered. ''If YOU
have no money, and expect 10 eat here.
you better give me some trinket TO sell
for you"
II have no trinketH TO give you"
He laughed.
Your shirt or breeches win do"
Are men shut up here to starve2'
The jsiler shrugged.
THE bread Is very bad, and the beans
too hard to eat We do not furnish the
rations; Il is not our fault. The rule here
Is nothing buys nothing. But sleep in
your breeches while you can. You will
soon be ready enough 10 eat them"
! was ready enough 10 eat them then,
but forbore TO let him know IT, The whole
place was damp and foul We passed
along corridor less than four feet wide
and he unlocked cell from which a re-
voting odor came. There was no light
except what strained through a loophole
under the ceiling. He turned the key
upon me. and held my nose Oh. for
deep drauRht Of the Wildernessl
There seemed 10 be an iron bed az one
side. with heap Of rags on top. 1 re-
solved 10 stand up ali night before trust
Ing myself 10 that couch. The cell WAS
soon explored. Two strides Ia each diroc-