The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-04-15

NN February 2S, 1916. 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 a
cell IN the gloomy Chateau DIFF, for
tress on 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 a
letter warning the authorities to inter-
cept the mIsslve Edmond was bearing
10 Paris. Chance decreed that this
warning, addressed to Villefort's IA
ther, fell into the hands of the un-
scrupulous villefort himself.
or this dark intrigue Edmond knew
nothing. At his captains dying re-
guest, he had called at Elba where he
had seen the captive Napoleon and
been intrusted with sealed letter.
Vlllefort, 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 II happened that while the
Corsican came out Of Elba by stealth
and rode to Paris amid tumultuous
cheers. Edmond lay In a 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
whit mad freak of fortune had thrust
him away from the world of men.
Days dragged into years. He lost
track of time. Confined in a black and
Shiny dungeon, he saw only his jailer,
There were moments when he hoped
hours when he despaired, weeks when
ne rayed in impotent anger, Four years
rolled past. He was starving himself
TO death. Then he heard 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.
-Four days later a section Of floor
ing fell In and out OF a dark tunnel
sprang an old man. He was the Able
Faria, prisoner for eight years. His
tunnel, dug with ardGous toll, had
failed to reach the sunlight, but II led
to Fellowship. unsupported 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
Villefort were responsible for his liv-
Ing death. So Edmond had new In
centive for freedom. He sought re.
yenge. The Able revealed too the sc,
cret of the great treasure of gold and
Jewels that lay in a cave on Monte
Cristo. an uninhabited island off Italy
The years rolled on. Another at.
tempt to escape was frustrated by the
paralysis Of the Abbe's right side. Ed,
mond refused to leave him. He was
. very different man from the carefree