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.
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