The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-04-20

NN February %, 1915, Edmond
Dantes sailed into Marseilles.
He Was but nineteen years Of
age and ardently in love. His con-
science was clear; he had violated no
law. Yet the next night he was in
cell In the gloomy Chateau DIFF, for
tress on bare rock off Marseilles.
And fourteen years were to pass be-
fore he strobe again In the sunlight.
Three men had wrought his ruin.
Danglars envied Edmond's rapid pro-
motion. Fernand was crazed with love
Tor Mercedes, Edmond's beloved. Dan
glars wrote and Fernand dispatched a
letter warning the authorities to inter-
cept the missive Edmond was bearing
to Paris. Chance decreed that this
warning. addressed to Vlllefort's ia
Their, fell into the hands of the I'M
scrupulous villefort himself.
OF this dark intrigue Edmond knew
nothing. At his captains dying re-
quest, he had called at Elba where he
had seen the captive Napoleon and
been intrusted with sealed letter.
villefort, turn-coat devoted to the
artstocracy, had changed his name to
make men forget that his father was
Bonapartist. He destroyed the in
eliminating letter before Edmond's
eyes and promised that the lad should
soon be free. Even as he spoke the
words. he knew that in the disappear
ance Of this youth lay his own security.
Thus 1t happened that while the
Corsican came out of Elba by stealth
and rode to Paris amid tumultuOus
cheers. Edmond lay in dungeon. The
thunder Of the guns at Waterloo did
not penetrate the walls of the Chateau
DIFF. Napoleon was borne away to
st. Helena; the Hundred days were
over. And Dantes knew naught Of
these things. He ate out his heart in
thoughts of Mercedes and wondered
what mad freak Of fortune had thrust
him away from the world of men.
Days dragged into years. He lost
track Of time. Confined In black and
Shiny dungeon. he saw only his TALLER.
There were moments when he hoped,
hours when he despaired, weeks when
he raved in impotent anger. -Four years
rolled past. He was starving himself
to death. Then he heard a rasping,
scratching noise. The spark Of human
hope burned anew. He swallowed his
broth; he must win back his strength.
Somewhere near him was a human
mole. burrowing stealthily, worming to-
ward freedom.
Teur days later section Of floor
ing fell in and out of dark tunnel
sprang an old man. He was the Able
Faria, q prisoner for eight years. His
tunnel, dug with arduous toll. had
failed to reach the sunlight. but 1t led
to fellowship. Unsuspected by their
jailers, the two men met daily and
studied unweariedly. Out of his ripe
wisdom and his prodigious memory
the Able taught Edmond mathematics
history and languages.
Less guileless than Edmond, he was
able to prove, from the youths own
story, that Danglars, Fernand and
vDiefort were responsible for his. liv
ing death. So Edmond had a new in
centive for freedom. He sought re
venge. The Able revealed too the Sc
cret Of the great treasure Of gold ant
Jewels that lay In a cave on Monte
Cristo. an unlnhablted island off Italy
The years rolled On. Another at
tempt to escape was frustrated by tn
paralysis Of the Abbe's right side. Ed
nond refused to leave him. He wa
n vory direreat man from the carefre