Show va Z f 4 C X 0 0 d sit 4 H 1 1 l j XI 7 A tny Ts ta ak WT vib ii W A BOLDO BOLD axy t by ST GEORGE PLATH RATHBORNE BORNE 14 author of lettle aliue miss Millir ns the Sp spider iderA web 11 miss fd t caprice dr bicks widow lie lic etc copyright 1901 by street tree sal smith naw corli I 1 M A i JK J K h A h tt isi i t f X x m 1 l i K K 1 r az t CHAP chappill TIll I 1 in the street t of the steen it nil all haipt ned in quaint old ant and charlie stuart found reason to believe that seldom in romance or history had a more singular adventure befall befallen n a pilgrim from lon don than clia cleaned chan ned ceil to hla his lot on this same da the morning was halt half spent ani and stuart found hini himself self somewhat at a loss losa to know knon what lie he should turn to next for or amusement ile he ha had d idled in the markets discovering new and attractive fe iturea constantly had been through the various museums and picture galleries in short exhausted tho the sights of old antwerp and was on the point of considering hta his exodus which would occur just as soon eon as he could make up tip hla his mind where his next objective point on the map of europe oi 01 the world would be I 1 ihen ben it was that fortune fickle jade took the pilgrim from london by the throat as it were and radically changed the whole course of hla exist eunce As he stood there idly twi twisting ting hiki blonde mustache lie he became amare of the fact that someone was bearing down upon tipon him at a swift pace some one quick energetic move ments menta reminded remind cd him irresistibly of 0 a hawk pom pouncing pumicing icing upon its prey someone who held out a hind tit in eiger greeting and bubbling ovel with animal squirt welcomed him eagerly ills HIS name was barnaby artemus wych orly claude barnaby ani and hla his piones olon alon that ot of an amateur dramatic novelist it was aas simply astonishing the weird fancies generated tn in that erratic brain of his each ot of which exceeded all others in phantasmagoric phantasmagoria and it must be confessed some times ludicrous splendor just the man of all england I 1 wanted to see consider it a lucky omen by jove to run across QU ou in this manner I 1 m going to enlist your sympathy and abd co operation in a little scheme I 1 have on foot my boy and you can depend upon it I 1 wont won t take no tor for an answer so eo Lon consider sider your belt as the second conspire tor well I 1 don t know about that but what wild hair scheme have you on foot at pie sent I 1 charlie ive run across the noblest theme for a startling drama that ever bobbed up in anybody a path why it actually opens an opportunity for tame fame and fortune to the gifted genau who has boldness enough to grasp tho the chance loll 1011 ou have of course visited the steen that groat great castle down the street sender once a prison of the inquisition now a museum did you take taho a guide with lighted flam beaus and explore the frightful dun geons geona tho the castle each call and corridor of which seems to exhale hideous memories of the tortures inflicted upon unfortunate prisoners in the dark ages when spanish cruelty ruled this country with an iron hand band stuart replied in the negative ilia 1113 artist soul bad feasted on the treasures which lay littered about the courtyard ourt yard of tho the onetime palace but the he musty dun dungeons bons eons he be had but hast averse to the contemplation ot of such bor horrors rork oh I 1 am aglid ot of that said artemus eagerly for you will be better prepared to accompany me to those same dungeons now the rho deuce exclaimed charlie charlap lp taken aback but not in the least disconcerted the other went on tell me havo have sou heard the stor atoo or rumor that Is circulated hero ani an 1 there through certain circles about a modern man la in the iron mask supposed to be incarcerated lu in the steen steea I 1 remember he heiring tring some little talk about such a thing but really never pursued the subject briefe Brie fl then it has haa long beon been whispered that there was as recently and may still continue to he be a secret prisoner confined in a lonely dungeon under fonder onder pile allo ot of ma conri a man whose face Is forever hidden behind an iron mask that la is secured by a I 1 havo haic reached tho the conclusion that this man ot of mystery might be some troublesome heir to the german throne or ele a son ot of lous loula napoleon for a minute what Aonder wonderful ful possibilities this vista opens to the drama dramatist it la Is quite enough to inspire the dullest mindl and I 1 am resolved to explore those ancient dungeons personally as no one has ever done before with A ith the secre secreta tl amwel purpose of 0 learning whether bother I 1 may found my great dram t upon a truth or the mcie cabile of i 1 dutch legend and will accompany me m mi boy out of pure philanthropy to share in the of success touching a suspicious suspicion bot package he carried under his left arm or to support me lu in case of exasperating failure charlie stuart could not say him nay ho he really had nothing on foot whereby to kill time and artemus artemia was such a jolly and bilgin il dog that it were worth something to hae the pleasure of his society for a space ot df time so besita hesitating ting he fell and thus sauntering down the street of the steen the two friends arror arrived d in the shadow of 0 tile the great building whose history lil story stretched back centuries into the dim past together tazy entzi ed like other pilgrims lims desirous of gazing upon the art tica treasures which lay withla those ancient walls charlie had seen all these before and cast but ft a casual glance around being more deeply interested in the actions of hig confederate an ali old damo dame with her wide cap started toward them but ono one blanci from artemus Artemi is eyes seemed to bring about a decided change in her intentions for she stood still and then backed away it will was a signal victory or as artemus artamus ea pressed it a howling success nevertheless his companion was still fain to believe the magic of gold had bad more to do with the old ladys sudden blindness than the exertion of rare hypnotic powers on the part of the proud wizard content to follow the others lead charlie soon found himself in that apartment several tall baass candlesticks stood upon an antique table to bo be used in exploring the mia teries below belo Art artemies artemia emits motioned that he bo should straightway possess himself of one in order thit that their can lies iles might have a receptacle and charlie Charl li having enli enlisted for the will wai como come weal come woe took up tip the of the lot which was in itself a treasure of art nervous Nerv aly artemus tried several keys keya in rapid succession muttering to himself the while in a way peculiar to hi him in at last came a little subdued screech that announced success on the part of the chattering idiot at hid side they were evidently in tor for it since the ponderous door opened be tore fore them charlie was not the one to hold bade back bo lie he stepped beyond the portal and went down immediately the door closed and tho the clang of it aas as unlike any sound he could ever le ta member hearing ahat creaking rusty key turned in the lock now said artemus la in a shrill voice pregnant pie gnant with c iger eiger anticis t tion now nonn vie no are in control and the devil dungeons of the steen must yield up their ghastly secrets cecieta to a master down the erable enterable en stairs they bended wended their way could those same steps have been gifted with the power of speech what strange and startling tales they might have given forth of human albery of hi historical personages and deeds that would have made the bravest cheeks pile but they were mute the dread secrets of the dim dinst would ever be sate safe in their keeping hark artemus uttered this word in a whisper and at the bame time clutched his companion a arm their surroundings were nvere so eerie that it was wad not wonderful vond erful that his vivid divid imagination seized upon the slightest pretext to arouse the ghosts that had lain here tor for long centuries what you hear Is only the gurgling of the river beneath our feet at the foot of the worn stone we a trap in the solid stone through which opening many a wretched condemned man met his bis fate yes it was only the fretful flood aou ou heard beard crying peevishly foi more victims 11 charlies calm manner quite reassured the othea perhaps ou oil are right but it sounded wonderfully like a human voice calling for help 1 alius bus in tiers the dungeons cay y each andl individual matial one seeming to surpass its predecessors in awful lobig had they been at their task ibo re reu reuler gul lir ir foutine pursued by tourist and guide had been done but there were nere other daik pa passages sages to explore gloomy as the river styx pis that the ordin ordinary try voyager never siw but which artemus was bound to investigate tor for if perchance there was vas a grain of oc truth in tb the stor he had bad heard surely the prisoner of 0 the iron mask alark must be found in such an united quarter charlie began to feel a bit anxious lie ile was about ready to confess that for ono one he hid bid quite enough of it and only figured on how he be might manage to curb this insatiate ambition on the part of his com the task was taken from his hands bands however ho vever and in a most unexpected manner artamus m was as eagerly urging him on ion to fresh fields and pastures while charlie held the other in check fearful lest jhc thc f till fill ill into some horrible pit with rusty spikes at the bottom such as they had bad discovered in one dun dungeon eon when suddenly without warning arning vi anere came to their ears a sound so strange in this region ro so utterly out of sympathy with their surroundings that both men stool stood still as though paralyzed and the sound wag as of a woman oman weeping it II IN 1 hat the tho found there were w x re those who iho knew prince charlie v wel ell who N ho had reason to bo b lieve he had bad pasted through pa IB plesiant experience j w ith ath lovely lovel woman bf ben ell deceived perhaps jilted altel although always gallant toward tho the fair sex he seemed to be ever on hla his guard as though quite determined no mortal who wore petticoats should have a second opportunity to play battle battledore doro and shuttle shuttlecock coIL with his heart but this was something entirely out 0 of f the common run and au as he be stood there listening to make sule auie there could be b no mistake he be felt an aim electrio electric thrill pervade his whole being such as he never beffie experienced charlie determined to go forward lie ile was surprised at himself for the peculiar resolution that urged him on it seemed as aa though he be were being dragged forward by some inexorable fate whether he would or not and the sound of sobbing still continued stealing along the gaunt eways the darkness beyond was apparently as aa fearfully dense as that which descended upon poor plague stricken egypt at the time I pharaoh declined to let the children ol of israel go 90 As charlie advanced he noted that the sound which had erstwhile reached their hearing but faintly grew moie distinct thus he was presently able to place the sobbing and still advancing he began to discern the dim outlines of a figure upon ahe ground As aa he drew closer he saw that this was a girl la in a long cloak and that she had hidden hor her face in her hands handa as though to shut out the ghostly fig ures urea conjured up by the gloom one thing was vcr cr sure when artemus in the earlier stages of their exploration declared he be heard beard a faint shout about it had not been the gurgle of the greedy geidl gliding ag under neath tho the crypts and corridors is lie he charlie had so confidently do dared but in all probability this lost calling fol foi help well thank god they hail found her and were in a position to ren ran der her the assistance she craved after all it had not been such a wild goose chase as he had believed when yielding to the importunities of hiti adventurous comrade they advanced closer still As yet et the di distresses one ft as not it aware are of theli presence or the blessed answer to her prayers ifer her attitude of abandon was most effective and charlie could not but think what a charming picture she made there overwhelmed not by grief but the terror of hoi situ situation atlon it was as not intentional on artemus part but some sudden chill draught caused him to give a vociferous sneeze this was instantly followed by a little shriek as aa the girl s hands handa fell from her face and she turned a pair of very large and deiy startled eyes eyed upon the two comrades it was of course Caarl charlles Cn arlies les bounden duty to immediately speak and reinsure the alarmed fraulien aullen fr that they were flesh and blood like herself and not spirits of the olden martyrs who hid had met deitha of torture in these dungeons but for the life of him and perhaps tor for the first time in the course of his whole experience he could not siy a word for the soft light ot of his waxen taper fell full upon the face that had until now been hidden behind the girls hands a face that tear marked as it was nas and moie or less be grimed from contact with foul walls during her groping in the dark electrified him with its ite peculiar charm charin of beauty and started his traitor heart to beating as it had not done these thesa many moons since he had quitted the presence ot of another fair woman oman with bitterness against the whole sex raging la in lit bis 11 bosom to be continued |