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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1914)
THE NORTH PLATTE 8GMIAVEEKLY TRIBUNE. l If it ?lMYKmOM) SraPMAN ANDRrWS ILLUSTRATrO SYNOPSIS. I'rain ii)k lionupi t. a ieuMii babe nf t'.ree veni. nfler (m arniiHtiiK Incident In wiin li Miitxliul Nmv flguioN, Ik made a t hevaller of Kratu u liy thu Hrnperor Na-p-ileoti, who prnplicMliMl that tin- bov iiJKi't one day hi n marshal of Frame i Mli r another Honapiirte. At tlir hkp of 1iti I'ihiiijoIh vlnltH fieni'ial Huron Gmh purn Colirgauil. wlio With Allxe. hi hi vi n-t eur-old dniiKhtir, llve at the i'it' in A Boldler of tin" Kmplre tinder Nipoldin In; Drew the boy'x Imagination v- Mi Mnrlvx of hl i Hinl'iilKim. Tin' gen- i il oiriTM KriinrolH u home ut the I'lin Ir.iU The boy refimeH to leave bin pu ll ntH hut In tin end becomex a cupylut for tin Kiinr.il and leaimi of the frlund i.Mp liftmen the k nerul and MaililM uppl. who eampalKned with the general tiiidnr Napolton. .MiirqulH Znppl and lilx urn, I'letro, arrlvu nt tho ('hiittaii. The K' neral agree to rare fot tin Marqul' hwi while thi fm iiifi' koch to America. 'I he Mnrqnlft before IcavhiK for Ameilua ii-ked I'"rnncol to he a friend of IiIk son. 'i In boy lolemnly pioiiiIhch KraiiciilH tfocs to tli Chateau to live Maiqiila f.uppi dies k'iUltiK I'lotro an u waul of tin Kcneral Allxj'. I'letro and I'rnncnlH meet iv BtrnnKe hoy uho pioven to ho j'rui' e j ,011m .Napoleon liainulK aveH IiIh life. Tlie Reneral dii'coverH 1'Yanr.olH )'V(H Allxe, and extracts a promlsu from Jum that Ins will not Interfero hotwion tho Klrl and Pletro I'ram-olti Koea to Italy an Ffiretaiy to I'lotro. CJne n Ilorlonne plana the eirapo of her Hon IaiiiIh Na jmleon by dlHgulsIng him nml Marquis Cuppl as lier hickeya. 1'rani l taken Minium Znniil'H placf. who In III. In the. 'icapc of HnrtcpKp. mid LouIm. Dretwed na l.nulR'H brother Kiniirala Iuioh tho in-tilnn.i frcin tho hotel allowing tho prior and hla mother to wuipe. Kran cola Is a primmer of tho Aimtrlans for 1l r yearn In tho cnathi owned by I'letro In Italy He dlscovera In bin guard one of I'letro k old family servants CHAPTER XIV. Continued. A person of moro Importuned than Hattlata hnd fallen under the apoll of Francois' personality. Tho governor lilmsolf had been attracted by tho younK Frenchman. Tho governor, Count von Gorsdorf, was a vain, dls contented, brilliant Aufltrlan, nt odds with tho world because ho had not risen further In It. He was without society In this mountain fortresB of his, and longed for it; he had a flno voice and no one to sing to; ho lilted to talk and bad no one to talk to. Francois, with hie ready friendliness, with his gift of finding good In every one, with his winning manner and simplicity which had tho caso of so phistication, was a treasure-trove of amusement to tho bored Austrian. Things stood bo with tho prisoner nt tho time of his discovery of tho Identity of his jailer and of hie Jail. The governor at that time was away on a visit to Vienna, looking for a pro motion; ho camo back elated and good-humored In tho prospect of n change within the" year. Hut tho heart of Francois sank as he thought what tho ehango might moan to him. " 'Soma day a marshal of France un der another Honapnrto, " ho said to himself one day, staring through tho liars at his window ho called tho sky to. Ho smiled. "Hut that is nothing. To help place my prlnco on tho throne of France that Is my work my life." Ho talked nloud at timet), an prison rra come to do.. He went on thou, in it low volco. 'If thoro wero good fairies, If I had tin 00 wishes: Alixo tho prince made emperor Francois Ueaupro, 11 marshal of France." Ho laughed happily. "It Ib child's play. Nothing matters ex copt that my life shall do Its work. Kvon that is ao small; but I havo n great dewtro to do thnt. I bellovo I uliall do tho., I know It." And he foil to work or a book which ho was plan ning, chaiUer by chaptor, In hie brain. Hut, If ho woro to escape over, tho chance was increased Infinitely by the going back and forth to the governor's room A now governor might keep lilm abut up absolutely. It had boon to whilo tho count was away; then he tiad boon ill, and tho, lieutenant In command would not lut a doctor see him till ho bocamo delirious; that wno the ordinary treatment of prisoners. Francois, thinking over these things on a day, fell with a sudden accent on tho. steady puh of his longing for freedom, tho conviction that ho must et free before tho count left, else op portunity and force for tho effort would both be gono forever. And on that day Hattista brought In his mid day meal with h look uud n manner which Francois remarked. "What Is II, Hattlstu?" he asked 60 My. The man answered not a word, but turned and opened the door rapidly and looked out. "1 thought I hud loft tho wator-pitcher. Ah, horo It Is I am Htupld,"ho spoke aloud. And then, linger on lip dramatically, he bent over tho young man. "My son tho little Hnttlstn hns had a letter. Tho young master wishes him to come to lilm In Franco, to servo him. lie- Ik going In two days." It waB whlspored quickly, and Hat tlata Btood erect. 'The slgnor'a food will got cold if tho slgnor does not eat It." hu spoko Kiullly "I do not like to carry good food for prlBonors who do not appro clato It I shall bring less tomorrow" Hut Fruncols, hardly hearing tho mirly tones, had his hand on Uattlata'B unn, was whispering back eagerly. ' Where does ho go, In Franco?" To Vieques," tho low answer camo. FraucolB sank back, tortured. doing to Vieques, the little Hattista! Krom Castloforto! And ho, Francois, must Htay hore In prison! His soul wbh wrung with a sudden wild home KlnkunsB, 'Ho wanted to seo Alixo, to jiej lilt mother, to , see. tho genoral; to 6y ELLSWORTH YOUNG see the peaceful little village and tho Btrcam that rnn through it, and the steep-arched bridge, and the poppy Holds, and tho corn! Tho gray castle with its red roofs, and tho beech wood, and the dim, hlgh-walled library, how he wanted to seo It all! How hits heart ached, madly, fiercely! IIiIh was the worst moment of all his captivity. And with that, Uattista was over him, was murmuring v.otds again. Something was slipped under tho bedclothes. "Paper pens. Tho slgnor will write a letter this afternoon. And tomor row little Hattlata will take It." And tho heart of Francois gave a midden throb of Joy as wild as Its an guish. Ho could speak to them before he died; it might ho they could save hltn. His handB stole to the package under the coarse blankot. It scorned as If In touching It ho touched his mother and his sweetheart and his home. CHAPTER XV. Good News. In tho garden of tho chauteau or Vieques, whero the stiff, gray tono vases Bpllled again their heart's blood of acarlct and etching of vines; where the two atately linos of them led down to tho sundlnl and tho round lawn on one of tho grlinn-slipported atone seats Alixo and J'lotro sat, where Alixo and Francois had sat flvo years before. As they sat In the garden, they had been going over the pros and cons of his Hfo or death for tho thousandth time. IMetro's quiet gray oyoB were sad as he looked away from Alixo and across tho lawn to tho beech wood. "God knows I would glvo my Ufa quickly If I could seo him coming through tho trees thoro, as we ued to seo him, mornings long ngo, in his patched homespun clothes." AIIxo followed the glanco consider ingly, as if calling up tho llttlo, brown, trudging llguro so well, rememborcd. Then sho tossed up her head sharply "Who?" and then she laughed. "I shall bo Beelng vlalonp noxt, like Fran cols," sho said. "I thought it was ho back in tho beech wood." "I see no ono." 'Pletr.p stared. "Hut you havo 110 eyes, Pletro I can always see a thing two minutes hnforo you," Alixo throw at him. 'Thero the man." , "Oh," aald I'letro. "Your eyes aro more than natural, Alixo. You aco In to a wood; that Is uncanny. Yea, I seo him now. Mon dlou! he Is a big follow." "A peasant from aomo othor vil lage," Alixo, spoko carelessly. "I do not know him," and they went on talk ing, as they had been doing, of Fran cols. And with that, hore was Jean Phil llppo Moison, forty now and fat, hut still beautiful in purple mllllnory, ad vancing down tho stone stops between tho tall gray vaeo, making a sym phony of qolor with tho rich red of tho llowera. Ho huld a allver tray; a let tor wan on It. "For madomolsellc." Mademolsollo took It calmly and glanced at it, and with thnt both tho footman and tho Mnrqul3 Zappl wero aBtonlshed to boo her fall to shiver ing, aa If In a. suddon Illness. Sho caught Pletro's arm. Tho letter was clutchod In her other hand thrust hank of hor. "Pietro!" "What la It, Alixo?" His volco waa quiet aa over, hut his hand was around It Was Whispered Quickly. hor shaking HngeiH. and he huld them strongly. "What la it, Alixo?" Sho drow forward tho othor hand; tho letter shook, mailed with hor trombllng. "It Ib from Francois!" Joun Phllllppo Molaon having Btayod to listen, a ho ought not, lift ed hla oyos and his bauds to hoavon and gavo thanks In a gonoral way,' volubly, unrobukod. Ily now tho utv steady lingers of Alixo had opened tho paper, and hor hoad and Pletro's woro bent over It, dovourlng tho woll-known writing. Alixo, excited, French, ex ploded Into a disjointed running com mont. "From prison our Francois deaf Francois!" And thou: "Flvo yonrs Pletro! Think while wo havo been froe!" And tlwi. with 11 Bwlft clutch ssssssj3ij plw p again at the big coat sleet 0 ciowdlng against her.. "Pietro! See, see! The ditto It is only two months ago. He was ullvo then; he must be allvo now; he la! I know It, Pletro! A woman knows more things than a man." With that sho threw up her head and llxed Jenn Phllllppo. drinking In all this, with nn unexpected stern glance. "What aro you doing horo, Molaon? What manners aro those?" Then, relapsing In a ihrah into pure human trust and affection toward tho tiiixlouH old servant: "My dear, old, good Moison ho in alive Monsieur Francois la alive In a honlble. prison In Italy! Hut he Is alive, Molaon!" And with that, a sudden jump again Into dignity. "Who brought this, Moi son?" Jean Phllllppo was only too happy to have a hand In tho joyful excite mciij. "Mademoiselle, the young per son speaks llttlo language Hut ho told mo to say to monsieur tho mar quis that ho waa the little Hattlata." Pletro looked up quickly. "Alixo, it is tho Bcrvnnt from my old home of whom I spoko to you. I can not imatf- Ino how Francois got hold ot him, but ho choso n good mesaortger. Mny 1 havo him brought hero? Ho must have something to toll us." Alixo, her letter in her hands, htrttg gled in her mind. Then: "The latter will keep yea, let him come, and w'o can read It all tho better after for what ho may toll u." . So Moison, having orders to produce at onco tho snld little Hattlata, retired, much excited, and returned shortly but not so shortly as to have omitted' a ding of tho great news into the mld8t of tho servants' hall. He con ducted, marching behind him, tho lit tle Hattista, nn enormous young man ot six feet four, erect, grave, atately. This dignified person, saluting tho lady with a dcop bow, dropped on one knee before- his master, his eyes full of a worshiping joy, and kissed his hand. Having done which, he arose allcntly and atood waiting, with those henmlng eyes feasting on Pletro's face, but otherwise decorous. First tho young marquis aald aonte friendly words of his great pleaaure In" seeing hla old servant and tho friend of his childhood, and tho big, man atood with downcnat eyoB, .with the color flushing hl happy fnce. Then, "Hattista," asked tho marquis, "how did you got the. letter which you brought mademolsollo?" ' "My father," answered Hattista la conically. "How djd jour father got It?" "From tho slgnor prisoner, my slg. nor." Allxe and Pletro looked'nt lilm nt. tentiycly, not comprehending by what! iiii;iiii hum was posaioie. l'letto, re membering tho little Battlata of old, vaguely remombcred that he wa In capable ot initiative In apeech. Ono must pump him painfully. "Was your fnthor In tho prison whoro the slgnor la confined?" Alixo nBkod. Tho little Hattista turned his eyes on her a second, approvingly, but briefly. Tlioy wont back without delay to their nfTair of dovourlng tho faco of his master. Hut he answered promptly. "Yes, slgnorina; he la there always." "Always?" Pletro demanded In alarm. "Is HaUlata a prisoner?" "Hut no, my slgnor." "Whnt thon? Hattista, try to tell ua." So adjured, llttlo Hattista mado a violent effort. "Ilo la ono of tho jail ors, my aignor." "Jailers? For the Auatrlniw?" The faco of the marqula took all the Joy ful light out of tho faco ot littlo Hat tista. "My aignor," hu stammered, "It could not bu helped, lie whb thoto. He know tho castle. They forced him at flrst, and--and It camo to bo so." "Knew the caatlo!" Pletro repeated. "What castlo?" Hattlata'a oyos turned to his Mas ter's like thoso of a faithful dog, trust ing but not understanding. "What cas tle, my slgnor? Castoirorte the slg nor'a own castle what othor?" A sharp exclamation from Allxe summed up everything. "Your caatlo Ih conllscntuil; they use It as a prison. Francois Is a prisoner thoro, Pletro! All theso years In your own homo!" "I nover dreamod of that." Pletto spoke, thinking aloud. "Hvery othor prison In Austria and Italy I havo tried to find him In. 1 novor dreamed of Caatelforto." At tho end of tho Interview thu llttlo Hattista put his hand into his breast pocket and brought out another letler. thickly folded. Would mademoiselle havo him Instructed whoro to find tho mother of tho slgnor prisoner? Ho had promised to put this Into hor own hands. Ho must do It before ho touched food ..,.,, AlHl Jeail l'lllllmtm Mnlunn ,..!, l..i ---- ,iii mm lurked discreetly back or tho noaroat atone va8o, not mlsslnc a Hvllnhio nu given ordors, nnd tiio huge llttlo Tint- nam was sent oir up the stono stops between the annrlot ilnunni .... . 1... "- ""v.,.i, u, UIU velvet slopo of lawn, In charge of tho miftiln nun hmir lntn- 11... .... 11 Huiiurai walked up from tho village, walked slowly, thoughtfully through tho beech D COfr?GHTV2 BY 3QB&3 rirtMLL CO. wood, his fa 00 hardly oldor than when he had como o Vieques, but sterner and sadder; Ms still soldiery gait less buoyant than it had been five years ago. He saw Allxe and. Pietro coming Joyfully toward him. rtiniilnc llcht- hcartedly, calling to him with excited gay voices. It stubbed tho general's lienit, a quick thought came of thnt other who had been always with them, now dead or woise, of that other whom these two had forgotten. And with thnt they were upon him, and Allxe waa kissing him, hugging lilm, push ing a letter into Ills hand, up his Bleove, Into his face anywhere. "Father good news tho best news nlmost tho best! Father, be ready for tho good nows!" "I am ready," tho general growled Impatiently. "What la this foolery? Sabre do hois! What is your news, then, you silly child?" And Alixo, shaking very much, laid iter huntl 011 his cheek and looked "You Must Save Him!" earnestly Into his eyes. "Father, Francois Is alive!" For all his gruff self-control the gen oral mado the letter an excuse shortly to sit down. Queer, that a man's knees should suddenly bend and give way because of a thrill of rapture In a mun'fl psychological make-up! Hut tho general had to sit down. And then and thero all that had been extracted from little Hattista waa rehearsed, and the letter read over from start to fin ish. "nut lie is alive, father! Alive! That is happiness enough to kill ono. I never knew till now that I feared he was dead." "Alive yes! Hut In prison in that devil's hole of an old castle!" And Allxe looked at Pietro and laughed, but tho genoral paid no attention. "He muat bo got out. Thero i no tlmo to waste. DIable! He is perishing in that vile stable! What was that the lad said about the doctor's speech, that only a long sea voyage could save him? Ono must get him out, mon dleu, quick!" v Allxe, hor band on his arm, put her head down on It suddenly- and stood so for n moment, her faco hidden. Pletro, hl hands thrust deep in his pockets, looked at the goneral with wldo gray eyes, considering. With that Alixo Unshod up, turnd on the young Italian, shaking her forefinger at him; hor eyea shone blue fire. "That la for you, Pietro If ve should loso him now. just ns wo havo found lilm! Now la the time for you to show If you can bo whnt Is bravo and strong, a Francois has shown. It is your castle; you must save him." Pietro looked at the girl, and the color cropt through his cheeks, but ho Bald nothing. "Alixo, my Allxe." her father put an arm around hor. "One may not do main! heroism as If It woro bread and button Pietro will not fall ua." "Alixo always wished mo to be bril liant llko Francois," Pletro spoke gontly. "Hut 1 never could." "Yot, Pletro, It Is indeed your time," Alixo throw at him eagerly. "Francois must bo rescued or he will die." "Yes," Plotro answoied quietly. "Francois must ho rescuud." He was sllont a moment, aa If thtuk lug. His calm poised mind was work ing swiftly; one saw tho Inner action in tho clear gray eyes. The general' and Allxe, watching him, saw It. "1 think 1 know how," he aald. CHAPTER XVI. The Stone Staircase. Hattlata'a prisoner atood at the barred window high up the stoop aide of tho caatlo and stared out wistfully nt the receding Infinity of blueno8a his moadow. In tho three months Bluco hla lotter had gono to France, ho linil crrmvti ntrl nMw. 4nUnU ui "" " "" "w jmv.ro ui urn vmtHi cnnmnil ,lt.i.1 ...v. l.l j ....... ....... ,.uu ,,um ,i,, m i-joii wuru bloodshot, his akin yellow ; there was nn fluah on him Tim .,,iii ...,.1 hoping had worn on him more than tho dead lovel of tho hopeless years Imfnrn I'lmro .a .. ....... . ....".. ..,..,., una 1. nun IUIIBUIIUMB l tho llghtly-bullt llguro. oven In tho 1-... . .lnll a .- . iuiik, uuiil-uvu, Hirong nngpra. TI10 nrlunnni lin.l nnnnlil n ...v.lf J ,l. l " " . -..iif)..v u iiiii ui vnu air of l10'" and was choking for a full breath. '-, i-'v-. " 1 "You nre not well, Jny friend," said the governor. "Tho doctor must seo you." Hut Frnncola refused lightly and laughed and fell to singing an old peas ant song of France which ho hnd ro mombercd latelj ; he got up on the tablo and droned It to an imaginary flddlo which he protended to piny after tho manner of old Jacques Arne, who played for dances In Vieques. And tho governor waa tnkon with a vlolont fancy for It. He roared at It. nnd sang It over In fragments till he hnd loarnod It, and then he sang It nnd loarod again and slapped his knee; there was a droll comedy In Francois' rendering also, not to be explained nnd tho count said that Francota must come to ills rooms the next night for dinner and sing him the song again and also listen to a new ono of his own. So Francois waa takpn down tho stone staircase and conducted to tho two looms which were the governor's suite. Ho know them well, for ho had dined many times with the count. Hut tonight ho was left nlone n few mo menta In the outer room, the living room, while the governor was In tho bedroom, and he looked about keenly with 11 strained attention which grew out of tho suppressed hope of escape Who knew whnt bit or knowledge of the castle might be vital, and who knew how soon? He noted tho swords nnd pistols hanging on the wall, and marked a light saber whose scabbard wns brightl polished as if the blade also were kept In good order. On tho table, he saw the Hint and steel with which Count on Goradorf lighted his pipo; he stepped tb the window and bent out, scanning the wall. A stone coping, wide enough for a man's foot, but little more, ran, four feet below; ton feet bejond the window It ended In the roof or a shed, a sloping roof where a man could drop down, yes, or oven climb up with ease. A man, that Is, who had climbed when a boy ns Francois had climbed like a cat for certainty rind lightness. But what then, when onp was in the courtyard? It was walled about with a stone wall sixteen feet high; these old ancestors of Pietro, who had built this place, had planned well to keep Pletro's friend in prison. So Francola, not hopeful of a sortie b that point, drew in his head from the open window and look to examin ing the walls of the governor's room. There were three doors one Horn the hall by which he had come, one be hind which he now heard the count moving in his bedroom, nnd a third. The count had gone through this last door one night a month before, into a dark, winding, atone staircase, and dis appeared for three minutes, nnd brought up a bottle or wonderful wino. "A fine stock they put down there the Italians who ruled here for eight hundred-odd year," ho had said. "I've lowered it a bit. A good spacious wine ccllnr and grand old wine. You will be the better for a little." And Francois had watched him as he put the brass key back on the chain which hung from, his belt. At this point or memory the bed room door opened, and the governor came out, in great good humor and ready to eat and drink as became an- Austrian soldier The dinner was brought In. but Francois. Tor all his efforts to do his part, could not swal low food, or very little. Tho fever, the unrest burning in him, made It Impos sible. Count Gersdot-r looked at lilm soriously when dinner was over; as yet ' Francois, talking, laughing, sing ing, ha'd eaten not over half a dozen moulhfuls "Certainly you are not well," he said. "I think the doctor should see you." And then he nodded his head and his small eyeb gleamed with a brilliant thought. "1 knowa medicine bettor than a doctor's." He stood up and his fingers wete working at tho chain of keys nt his belt. Francois watched them and saw the thin, old, brass key which he slipped off. "A bottle of wine of our Italian ancestors yours nnd mine, Henupre" tho count chuckled "that will cure you of your Ills for this evening at least." Ho slid the key into the lock and snld, half to hiniBolf, "My llttlo brass friend novor leaves the be"lt or Albrecht von Gcrs dorr except to do him a pleasure, bless him!" And then, "Hold the candle Henupre well, como along down It can do no harm and 1 can't manage a light and two bottles, " So Francois followed down the twist ed; headlong, stono ntaircsi3o and found lilmsolf, after rather a long descent, holding the lnmp high, gazing curious ly about (he walls of a largo stono room lined with ahelves, filled with bottles. "A show. Isn't It?" the Count von (lersdorf demanded. "Here, hold tho light on this side," and he went on talking. "Tho wine is so old that I think It must have been stocked be foro tho time of the laat lord or tho castle." And Francois, holding the light, re membering tho Mai quia Zappi, thought bo too The count pointed to a square stone in tho wall which projected slightly, very slightly. "Thnt lb the door to a secret stock or some sort, 1 havo alv.ays thought," ho said. "Probably some wondeiful old stuff saved for the coming of age of the heir, or a groat event of thnt sort. I wish I could get at it," and ho stared wistfully at the masahe block, ilut 1 cannot stir It. And I don't let anyone but msolt down hero not I." The count turned away and tlioy mounted tho two storlca of nanow stops, for tho governor's 100ms woro on tho second floor, and the stnlrcaso rnn from It between walls, down un derground. "The old chsipt) must havo thought a lot of their wlno to havo tho cellar connect directly with their own rooma for Hattista tella mo these were always the rooms of the 55a of tho lords of the caatle," tho governor explained. And to Francois, considering it, ths fact soeinod an odd one. And then tho governor sot to work drinking Pletro's wlno, and little thought, aa ho urged It on his prisoner, how much inoro right to It tho prisoner had than he. It was n wonderful old liquid, full of a strnngo dim Bparkln, nnd of most exquisite bouquet As ho drank It Francois silently tonstcd its owner on his return to hts ovn ngnln. Ho took so llttlo as to dlsgtmt tho gov ernor, but It put fresh life Into him, nnd when at last ho could leave the count, who was by that tlmo moro than fnirly drunk, he wont up to his cold prison under tho roof quieter and more nt peace than ho had been for months. CHAPTER XVII. A Loaf ofBread. Tho noxt morning Hattista came In with a manner which to the obsorvlng oye or hla prisoner lorotold distinctly Borne event. He talked moire than usual, and moro gruffly and loudly, but at last, after wandorlyg nbout the room somo minutes, nil tho tlmo talk ing, scolding, he swooped on Francola and thru'st n thick paper Into his coat ami at tho samo instant his heavy loft hand waB over FrancolB' mouth. "Not a word," ho whispered, and then "Tho loaf of bread." Francois, struck dumb and blind, turned hot and cold, and his shaking hand in his coat pocket clutched tho letter. But Hattista proddo lilm with hla hard forefinger. "Bo capful," lie mut tered, nnd then ngaln, 'The bread" with a sharp prod "The Ionf of bread" and the door had clanged. Hattista was gone. A strong man, who had not buen shut away from life, would likely have read tho letter Instantly, would In stantly have examined tho long round loaf lying beforo him. Francois was 111 and weak and it waa the flrst word for flvo years from hie own people, which lay in his hand; he sat as If turned to atone, touching the paper aa if that were enough; ho sat perhaps fifteen minutes. Then suddenly a breathlessness carrro over him thnt something might happen before he could read it this writing which, whatever it should any, meant life and death to him. Taking care not to rustle tho paper, deaden ing the sound under his bedclothes, he read It, kneeling by the bed. It was four letters from his ' mother nnd Alexe and the gonoral and Pletro; but the firat three were short. He felt, indeed, reading them, that no words had been written, that only the arms of tho people ho loved had strained about him and their faces laid against his, nnd that so, wordlessly, they had told him but one thing their undying love. Weak, lonely, his intense tem perament stretched to tho breaking point by the last three months of fear ful hope, it waa more than ho could bear. He put the papers against his cheek and his head dropped on the bed, and a storm of tears tore his soul and body. But It wns dangerous; ho must not bo off his guard; he remem bered that awirtly, and with shaking fingers ho opened Pletro's letter Pletro'a letter which, yellowed and raded but distinct yet, in tho email clear writing, is guarded today with thoso other lotterB in the mahogany deak in Virginia. " "Aly dear brother Francois," tho let ter began, and quick teara came again at that word "brother," which said bo much. "My dear brother Francois this Is not to tell you how I hav.o searched tor you nnd never forgotten you. I will tell you that when I seo you. This la to tell you how to got out of that house of mine which haft hold you aa a prlaonor when you ouglrt to havo been its welcome guest. When Italy Is free we will do that over; but The Count Pointed to a Square Stons In the Wall. we must got jou free first, Francois. 1 am now within five miles of you" The man on his knees by tho prison bed gasped; the letters staggered be fore his oyos. "I am living on a ship, and 1 will explain how I got It when 1 see you, In a few days now, Francois. Every night for n week, begln::ng with tonight, thero will be a person watching for you In Hlders' Hollow, from midnight till daylight. After that i shuti e, away for two weeks ao as to avoid giv- lug suspicion, and then repeat the ar rangement ngnln every night for a wook. You do not know Riders' Hol low, and It Is unnecessary to tell you moro nbout It than that It Is a lonely place hidden in trees, and Rimnncn.i b haunted by ghosts of men on horse- imcK; tho people about will not go there for lovo or money except by broad daylight. tTO UK CONTIN UUD.) One mnv hn hnrln,. il, .. .. ., . ..., ., Vllu H renu1a, Hon or his conduct, but never bettoi tjian his principles. Lateua. nfTX t m -l : . w. 4. J k