The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-04-15
Nm February %, 1915, Edmond
Dantes sailed into Marseilles.
- He was hut nineteen wears of

IN 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, a for
tress on a bare rock Off Marsellles.
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
for Mercedes, Edmond's beloved. Dan
glars wrote and Fernand dispatched
letter warning the authorities to inter-
cept the missive Edmond was bearing
TO Paris. Chance decreed that this
warning. addressed to Villefort's ia
cher 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
aristocracy, had changed his name to
make men forget that his father was
a 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 die
not penetrate the walls Of the Chatea,
DIFF. Napoleon was borne away I,
st. Helena; the Hundred days wer'
over. And Dantes knew naught o
these things. He ate out his heart II
thoughts of Mercedes and wondere,
what mad freak of fortune had thrus
him away from the world Of men.
Days dragged into years. He los
track Of time. Confined In black an
Shiny dungeon, he saw only his jaile1
There were moments when he hopet
hours when he despaired, weeks whe
he raved in impotent anger. Four year
rolled past. He was starving himsel
to death. Then he heard raspini
scratching noise. The spark Of huma
hope burned anew. He swallowed h
broth; he must win back his strength
Somewhere near him was a huma
mole. burrowing stealthily, worming t
ward freedom.
-Four days later a section of foo
ing fell In and out Of dark tunn
sprang an old man. He was the ABB
Faria, q prisoner for eight years. II
tunnel, dug with arduous toll, h,
failed to reach the sunlight, but It |,
10 fellowship. unsupported by tbs
jnilers, the two men met daily Al
studied unweariedly. Out of his ri
wisdom and his prodigious rnemol
the Able taught Edmond mathemati
history and languages. W
Less guileless than Edmond, he W
able to prove, from the youths o,
story, that Danglars, Fernand al
viIlefort were responsible for his ]
ing death. So Edmond had new
eentive for freedom. He sought
vsnge. The Able revealed too the
cret Of the great treasure of gold a
jewels that lay in cave on MOI
Cristo, an uninhabited island of Ita
The years rolled on. Another
tempt to escape was frustrated by
para!ysis Of the Abbe's right side. ]
nond refused to leave him. He v
Svsgy dinersat man from the carefl