| Show A WARRIOR BOLD 0 by ST GEORGE RIYE Auti of little S ss M 11 on the sp der t wila sr D backs virlom IF adow ff as caprice etc copyright 1901 street and smith new york VIII of course it was very annoying his cigar had gone and that source of consolation lost charlie had t to 0 turn to something some taing else in order to in erect himself A companion in misery was alo along ng side up to the present charlie did not knois whether he nere ere young or old all he saw was that a man had been shoved in ahead of him so he leaned his head toward that of his fellow and exclaimed in french monsieur it seems that we are tomp companions anions in misery might I 1 ask your giving bis his own at the same time the other did not appear downcast indeed he answered quite cheerful ly IY 1 I am henri the marquis of mont pe censier lister a blood relative of don carlos 0 of f spain further conversation was prevented by a gruff demand from one of the guards for silence at length they drew up to the pris on ceremony the two prison era were hustled into the jail charlie silently walked into the dark cell which yawned before him to have refused would have been tol fol ly since by force he would doubtless have been thrown over the thresh old ah ali he might be worse off ills HI cigar case still held a few choice weeds such as appeal most strongly to the heart of the confirmed smoker so he hastened to secure a cigar next came a match ae As he struck this latter and a light into existence he heard an ex CL mation and remembered he bad had a cot orade in misery he saw a young chap with a reso lute face there was more of an american look about him than euro and yet charlie remembered having heard him give the name of Guio guiseppe eppe Drig brignoll nolt as though he were an italian pardon comrade charlie said in french allow me to light my weed since matches are scarce and then I 1 shall off offer er you a cigar with which he proceeded to put his words into execution thanks awfully but I 1 don t smoke said the other laconically in the best of english the match expired before charlie could get another look at his comrade but he knew his first suspicion was true the thle young fellow came of an glo saxon stock and had assumed an italian name in order to keep his own from disgrace or from some other rea son they might exchange confidences while trying to pass away the long hours or at least engage in social dis course pardon me again sir but can you spare a couple of matches 9 asked the other half a dozen at your service thanks they may serve my end well and yours in the bargain charlie a cu rosity flashed up what did the other mean to do doa was he desperate enough to think setting the prison on fire nonsense there was not one chance in a million of accomplishing such a thing to men shut up here in this grimy dungeon nevertheless he knew that nothing was ever accomplished without effort and that often a capricious fortune aids those who help themselves A cursory examination of their dun geon revealed a startling yet cheer ing fact under the boards the youngsters discovered a tunnel when the flat stone was lifted up behold an opening yawned below the youth gave thanks in his pe po cullar ullar way and without much more ado jumped into the breach I 1 shall return comrade he said and charlie believed him he sat there smoking his cigar and feeding the flames with bits of the splintered planking minutes passed evidently bis his companion was mak ing quite a tour under the prison flooring at last there was a movement and a head appeared above the stone flag ging give me a hand pl please plase ase charlie knew from the look of tri upon his face that the other was decidedly pleased with what he bad had discovered in luck eh eha he hazarded the best in the world some good chap in the past has made a tunnel all but breaking through I 1 did that part while I 1 was gone in fact to tell you the truth I 1 ve been under the starlight outside the prison inbred yes when I 1 tapped the end of the tunnel I 1 found tt it came up in an old wagon yard some ten feet or more beyond the outer walls but I 1 suppose we might as well go then good goodby by my dear fellow but you will share my escape we dont dent separate yet you know I 1 im in not going not goings you prefer to remain in this accursed hole when freedom of fers come you are joking sir oh no I 1 oa ou see it if I 1 crawled out of here I 1 would by implication admit my connection with those whom baron has hauled in being inno cent I 1 shall sit here until he comes r t beg 0 say my pardon and personally coa con duct me to freedo the youngster looked at him kindling eyes bravo I 1 like your spirit he said would you mind shaking hands with me sir it will be a pleasure on my part and they exchanged a warm grip I 1 hope we may meet again let me give you my card who knows what strange chance may drift us together again who can say under what condl eions we may come together who indeed 13 both 0 th of them would have been c chilled hil led with horror could they have eien guessed the truth but the veil of the future mercifully hid that from mortal ken another hearty anglo baxon saxon hand shake then the youngster dropped into the hole charlie made as comfortable a seat as was possible from some ol 01 the old planks and kept the fire going with fragments by degrees his thoughts came around again to his late companion then he remembered that as yet he did not even know the others other a true name where was the card ah just where he had thrust it and bending down he read the name by the flickering light of his fire then tt it dawned upon him why he had felt such a singular interest in the young fellow and why he had deemed his features familiar yet could not grasp the tangible substance tor for the name written boldly was ALEXANDER BRAND here then was the most remarkable coincidence in the whole course of his varied experiences there could be no mistake this young fellow bore some rela tion ship that of brother or cousin perhaps to arline he had her name and there was a strong family resemblance in their faces there must be a sense of awe in the realization that one is a mere pup pet in the hands of destiny that the power which sends unnumbered worlds whirling through space in their exact orbits without danger of col dision or of the slightest change in their course can condescend to super intend such a small thing as the wel fare of one puny human life charlie pondered upon the matter a long time then before he knew it he tell fell asleep despite his hard seat and his determination to remain on guard when he awol e he was stiff and sore A light gleamed in his eyes it was the warder making the rounds with bread and water when the gruff man held up the light in order to view the confines of of the dungeon and beheld only charlie seated there and blinking like an owl he was much amazed he ile demanded to know where the other prisoner had hidden himself charlie calmly pointed to the hole still uncovered by the slab of stone oh he s gone out tor for a walk he said coolly the man began to grasp the situa tion and when he could move he sprang to the door of the dungeon to bawl for assistance several everal fa other wardens came tumbling into the cell then ensued a great powwow of dutch phrases while charlie yawned and stretched himself then came the commandant how did this happen he de banded well you see he had an appoint ment and did not wish to break his engagement but you mein herr how Is it you remain do you like this residence so well grimly I 1 told you last night or attempted to that I 1 was an innocent party that baron was my friend that my arrest under the circumstances was an outrage and hence I 1 utterly refused to leave this place until you and the baron had humbly begged my pardon indeed I 1 am not sure but that I 1 will insist on remaining here until the english consul comes to see me and takes action against your mis erable government for treating me a british subject in this disgraceful way just as he had expected his manner awed the fiery commandant who feared trouble he began to whine at once and ex pressed bis his argret that any mistake should have occurred surely mein herr must hold him blameless since he had only done his duty in the prem prein aises it was not given to him to investigate vesti gate when the all powerful baron daron brought in political prisoners with orders to hold them securely would men me n herr be pleased to go with him to his office where he could be more comfortable and there await the earning coming of the baron who would with a word set hlin him freed but mein herr was obstinate the baron must come to him As paul and silas in days of yore made the governor unbend his dignity and come to plead with them to go away so charlie meant to keep hold of his adi advantage altage antage so the commandant went away charlie was still smoking with one of the keepers for company and the door of his cell wide open when voices were heard in the corridor then entered the baron the great man looked both disturbed and amused he had beard heard the abaz ing story of the commandant and sifted the wheat from the chaff so that he had a pretty fair idea as to the truth he marched straight up u p to charlie and alid stretched out his hand my most abject apologies my dear boy tor for what has happened it was a mr mistake on my part I 1 you will forgive me be he said charlie saw he was sincere and as his indignation passed away he unbent his dignity then you know it was mies miss arline brand and not the countess isolde whom I 1 assisted into a carriage at the steen he asked eagerly deter mined to put his fears to the test yes she has assured me she never saw you save at a dl distance sance returned the baroa baron then it la Is all right now I 1 am ready to leave here and go out with you baron he said smiling to breakfast with me I 1 hope charlie hesitated true he anticipated more or less pleasure in his coming interview with arline there would be much to hear and some surprising things to tell on his part but these would keep a little longer besides it Is sometimes exceedingly pleasant to anticipate a feast he had something which he wished to relate to the baron seeking in return hiar hi advice and material aid whenever men went to the desperate length of lot contemplating crime in order to secure wealth as the so called capt brand and his confreres had certainly done when they purposely abandoned the young girl among those awful passages amid the steen dungeons it was time the stern arm of the law was invoked in order to bring them up with a round turn and to whom could he go with a better show of results than to the baron so arm in arm charlie and baron Deme demetruis truls sauntered out of the prison it was about eight in the morning charlie could imagine the young fellow standing on the deck of the vessel bound tor for london and snapping his fingers at the baron s dragnet he was determined not to give the slightest clew to his companion concerning alexander brand bis his plans or present whereabouts A vehicle stood near into this charlie was shown the baron followed and presently they drew up before a palatial abode where the widower baron resided in great style as became a man of his immense means and over the elaborate bre breakfast alfast charlie found a chance to spin his big little story the baron proving greatly interested as the sparkle in his eye at ested tested he could read charlie charlies s secret as amily easily as though the other carried the story on his brow you have done excellently charlie my boy boys he said finally but it lg Is just as well you ash ask my assistance in unmasking this unholy fraud he ile and his unprincipled accomplices might be too much for you depend upon it I 1 shall tear the mask from his face and that right speedily to be continued |
