Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-07-11

mans
ence. and his sudden frlendHneus with
he Bauels and Cassion did not worry
me greatly ! realized his purpose In
thus dlvertlng suspicion Ills pledge
Of assistance had been given me. and
his was the word Of a soldier and gen.
flaman IN some manner. aud soon
before midnight certainly would ~
cefFe message from Bolsroudet.
Yet nv heart failed me more than
once as I waited How long the time
seemed. and how deadly silent was the
night. Crouched close beside the door.
/ could barely hear the muttered con
versatlon Of the soldiers on guard;
and when crossed TO the open vin-
dow I looked out upon q black void,
utterly soundIess.
Nor even the distant crack OF rife
now broke the solemn stiffness ana
The only spot OF color visible was the
dun red glow Of campfire on the op-
posite bank Of the river j had no way
Of computing time, and the tagging
hours seemed centuries long. as terri
flying doubts assaiIed me
Every new thought became an agony
Of suspense Had the plans failed
Had Bofsrondat discovered the Bris-
oner so closely guarded as TO make res
cue impOssib5ef Had his nerve, his
daring. vanished before the real dan
ger of the Teuure2 Had D.Artigny
refused to accept the chancez What
had happened what was happening
out there In fhe mystery
All I could 40 was pray. and wait.
Perhaps no word womb be given me
the escape might already be accom-
piisbad. and I left here 10 my fate.
Ro.sronder knew nothing Of my decl
sion TO accompany D'Artigny in his
exile II the way WIS difficult. and
dangerous. he might not consider #
essential TO communicate with me ar
ALL DE Tonrv had promised. to be
sure. vet he might have failed 70 $50
instruct the younger man c1ung 80
the window, the agony Of this posi-
biHtv driving nae wild
Mon Dieu. was that q noise over
head? 7 could see nothing. yet. as I
leaned farther out. cord touched my
face. / zrasped it, and drew the dan
Cling end in. IT was weighted with a
bit &c wood. A single coal glowed i'm
the fireplace. and from this / ignited
splinter. barely yielding nae light
enough 30 decIpher the few words
traced on the white surface. safe SO
far. have YOU any word ?"
NV veins thr9bbed; could have
screamed iu delight or sobbed in sud
den joy and relief. j fairly erepr TO
the open window on hands and knees. +
animated now with but one thought
one hopc-the desire not 10 he Iert#
there behind alone I hung far ont.
my face upturaeI. staring into the
darkness. The distance was not great +
only few feet 70 the roof above. vet
SO black was the night that the edge
above me blended tmpercepubly
against the sky. I could perceive no
movement no outline Could they
have already gomez Was it possible +
that they merely dropped this brief
message, and instantly vanishedf SO.
the cord stijl dangIed. somewhere i'm
that dense gloom the two men peered
over the roof edge waiting my re
Spouse
Monsieur" I called up softly. un-#
able 10 restrain MY eagerness
yes. madame" Il was I'd Ardcnv's +
voice. although o mere whisper. You +
have some word for ue2"
"Av. listen. is there any way by
which I can join you2'
Join me-hereE" establishment at +
my request made him incoherent +
why. madame. the risk IS great
Never mind that. my. reason is wor-
thy. nor have we time now to discuss .
the matter Monsieur Bo.sroudet, is +
there q wav=T
I heard them speak to each other f.
q mere murmur Of sound then another /
voice reached my ears clearly.
I've have strong grass rope. ma /
dame. which VIII safely bear your .
weight The risk VIII not be great. +
I have made a moose. and will lower
it,"
4 reached it with MY hand. but felt +
q doubt as my fingers cIasped #.
Ills very small monsieur
"But strong enough for double your +
weight as twas Indian woven Putt
foot in the moose. and hold tight F..
There are two OF Us holding it above. +
The memory OF the depth below +
frightened me. yet crept forth on the /
narrow sill. cliugiuE desperately to the +
taut rope, until felt my foot safely .
pressed into the moose which tighteued /
firmly about it.
Now" I said barely able 10 make
my lips speak. II am ready"
"Then swing clear. madame, wen .
hold you safe"
doubt if 1t was a full minute in
which swung out over that gulf amid .
the black night My heart seemed to F
STOP beating. and I retained 10 sense
other than 70 cling desperately to the
swayins cord which alone held me
from being dashed to death on the jag
ged rocks below. Inch by inch they
drew me mp. the continuous jerks
yielding q sickenfug sensation. but the
distance was so short I could scarcely
realize the full danger. before DAT
tigny grasped me with his hands and
drew me in beside him on the roof
stood upou NV feet trembling from