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Mount By FREDERIC S. I SHAM AwiKmr of '?The Strollers'9 "Ueder Tbn Uns sTfe.? 3ET W TSt CHAPTER XIX. Mourrtabenk and tha Qovarnor. hi hla hand tha Oovernor held a paper; hla usually austere face wore a slightly propitiatory expression, while the eyes be* turned upon her, an slowly be entered the room, sug? gested a respite of differences. Paus* In** he toyed with the missive, turn Ins; tt around and around In his An? ns If something In his thoughts repotting with It. Had he been watchful of her, less bent on matter uppermost In his mind, he could hot hare failed to mark the of hla face, or the agitation there. As It was, his glance nwept without studying. "I hoped to And yon here," ho be? gan eonrnsmosntly; "hoped that you had not yet retired" 1 She) made some faint response, but her voice, despite herself, wavered. his look sharpened; then Immediately relapsed; con? straint on her part could sasily be ited for; not many hours had stnos their last interview. ?Ten," ho continued. "1 have hero to cjnassder." Indicating a paper he held, *a rubber Important matter. Ha wait sht n moment before adding: "A mat far that concerns?yuu!" That aooosras mat" Bar hands tlihnsniil ?^faaT v "Since tt Ig Important," aha said hastily, "would It not-shall we not lee t It until tomorrow T I?I am gather tired tonight, and?" s "What?" ha returned In the same asm (Bed tone, "Would you postpone csaudderlng tha command of tha *lsg!" "Oommandt" she re peat ely norvou il? ly. "Of tha Kingr "Or request." which Is the same." "But?" she be*-an, and ? topped; held hy a sound, as of some one mov? ing, near tha window. "Shall I read it. or?" Sao had started to look behind her: hat abruptly caught herself, an I seemed about to f *ame some irrele ?*nnt re*?or?ee, vr<n his voice went on: "The King desires to change the date set for your marriage with his kinsman, the Marquis do Beauvllllera." "Changs?" she echoed. "Tee; to hasten It" If the Gover? nor had expected from her hostility, or perverseneea, he was agreeably disappointed; tha girl evinced neither pleasure nor disapproval; only stood la IV * '' Ni of expectancy, with hei rn?d. "His : v u; s reasons for this "Can't we?can't we, at least, post? pone considering them?" Again to regarded her more closely. "What better time then the present?" "But I don't want?" "Elise!" A slight frown appeared on his brow. "His Majesty," once more looking at the paper, "bints at an Important political appointment he desires to confer on the Marquis de BesuTllllera which would take him abroad; but whether ss ambassador, or as governor In the colonies, his Majesty doea not disclose. Obviously, however, the bestowing of the honor? n high one. no doubt!?depends on * his early marriage, and a wife to grace the position. The letter," weighing It. "Is a tentative one; the courteous precursor of a fuller com? munication when be has learned our? your?pleasure." She did not at once express It; Indeed, at the moment, seemed scarce? ly to have comprehended; her glance, which had swept furtively behind when be was studying the document, returned more uneasily to his. but not before be had caught the backward look. "Welir he said with a touch of as? perity. "Well?" he repeated, when his gsse. following the direction hers had tsken. paused. Although well lighted in the center by a great Venetian candelabrum, the far ende of the spacious hall lsy sotnewhst In obscurity; nc'sbly the specs sdomed wl'h tropical plants and a ltfe-slse brome before tho en ISSSSS to the bslcouy. It wae OS this dim recess the Governor permitted his aye to rest; at first casually; tl.? :. with a sudden appearance of Interest. Kb?" he muttered, and before, my lady could prevent him, If she had been mindful so to do. walked quickly forward; but as he advanced, a white figure etepped boldly out from behind ths.. psrtlsl screen. With a sharp ex clamatlon, which found a startWd echo from the girl, the Oovernor stopped; stepped back as far aa th?> table. "What mummery 1? this?" His lips shsped the. wo*ria uncertainly; hla hand, reaching ou' with ?hat first Startled Instinct of danger, touched the bell. "Your Ladyship rang1 ?'>n IhSJ Og posit* aide of ||g nhfffl was the dOOf thrown suddenl) open The look of expectancy on ihe> face of the com rnandant, who had so promptly ap? peared, gave way to one of surprise; consternation. "His Excellency!" ho muttered, and mechanically saluted. Over the Governor's visage a faint traeo of relief flitted; dryly he looked from the mountebank, now erect and motionless, to the girl; but the face was averted and Us Excellency could not see the sudden whiteness of her cheek; again he regarded the officer. "You answer cur summon! with alarrl'y," he observed to this last sub? ject Of his scrutiny. The commandant reddened. "I? yojr Excellency?the truth is, I was wn'tlng without, at the door." "What you havo just stated," re? turned the Governor, "is patent; what I should like to know, however," with subtle change of tone, "Is why you were stationed th? no." "To take this' mountebank player away, when It pleased her Ladyship to?" ?'Yes; to take h m away!" Interrupt? ed the lady in hurried tones, the agi? tation of which she strove to conceal. "And 1 was about to call him, when?" The Governor continued to address the, commandant. "You brought him here?" Incisively. "Yes; your Excellency; a stupid fellow we arrested for making trouble with his dolls, and?but with her La- j dyahip's permission?" awkwardly , turning to the Governor's daughter, "I . will explain." To this the girl, however, made no ' ahswsr; as If fascinated, watched them, the commandant, her father, the1 still, white figure at one side?not far 1 away! ' "1 think," the Governor spoke soft? ly, "you will do that, anyway!" j "Exactly, your Excellency! It hap- i pened In this wise," and not without evidence of constraint and hesitation, the officer slowly related tbO itOIJ the disturbance on the platform; the taking into custody of the rogues and knaves, and my lady's Interest In the vagabond ,clown whose play bad oc- i casloned the riot "Because It waa seditious, designed to set authority at naught?" interrupt- I ed the listener, grimly eyeing for an Instant the motionless form of the mountebank. i "On the contrary, your Excellency." j aukkiy "Her Lndys'tlp assured rr wua the loyal nnd faithful sentlm of the play that caused the unruh rascallions to make trouble, and I] t ? he clown deserved no punishment be cause ho hud intended no mischief1 "Her Ladyship?" The Goverm..'? blows went suddenly up. "How," atked at length in a voice yet softer, "should her Ladyship have known about the 'loyal and faithful senti? ments' of s piece given In the town, before a crowd of brawlers?" "Because I was a spectator!" en d his daughter, a red spot now on oaf cheek; changing lights In her eyes. "A spectator," repeated. In mild surprise, the Governor. "I will explain?after!" she add d In tones, low, constrained. "Hum!" His Excellency's glance ?wept to the commandant. I "Her Ladyship was sa good," nur- ' mured the latter In some embarr; s- I I ment and yet feeling obliged to spe; \, ' with that bright Insistent gaze of the , high official of the Mount fastened upon him. "as to inform me that, de? siring to mingle with the people, a. ?!, knowing it might not bo expedw ::t 1 to do so?in her own proper chars - ter?her LauyBhip saw fit to assume j a humbler costume?that of a Norman peasant maid?" | Krom the Governor's lips fell 00 ( ejaculation; he seemed at out to ep?' l: sternly, but the words fulled on his Hps; Instead. 'Continue!" he said curtly. "That, I believe, Is all, your Kx 1 lency, except that her ladyship cv pressed the desire the stupid f< II >w be set at liberty on the morrow, a3 not worth the keeping -and?" The mountebank started, as expeet? tiiK now the Lady Elise to speak. la i denounce him. perhaps; but It war ids Rsosltsacy who Interrupted. "You were qolng to do so? To set htm nt Hhartyt" "I, your Excellency? Th? int? t gag voleura Is so full of the scum of the sands, there Is hardly room for thsfll to squirm; but If your Excellency wishes aU these paltry ragamuffins und beggars brought before you?" "Well, well!" The Oovernor looked down; his hand crushed Impatiently tha paper hi haM. "Here is muck ado about nothing! Have you," to ids d iUghter, "aiudi? to add ?" she lifted bar head. Btandlns, in a csrslass nose, apparently regardlesi ol what was taking place, the mount* b ink, at tht Governor's question, sh >t ii Quick glanca tmm him lo her 41 o 1 hut so Instant ids look met my lady's, In that brief Interval she read all that was lost on the other two; the sudden, desperate purpose, the Indu? bitable Intention, his warning glance conveyed. At the same time she no? ticed, or fancied she did, the hand thrust Into his breast, as if grasping some weapon concealed there, drew out a little, while simultaneously, lend? ing emphasis to the fact, ho moved a shade nearer the Governor, her fa? ther! "Nothing," said the girl hastily; "nothing!" "Then," his Excellency wavod n thin, aristocratic hand, "take him away!" "And your?her ladyship's instruc? tions?" murmured the commandant. "Are to be obeyed, of course!" C 1 swered the Governor, complacency regarding his letter. "You hear, fool?" said in a low voi?e the commandant, as he approach- J the clowiu "Thank his Excellency! Don't you know enough? Clod! Dolt!" But the man made at first no effort to obey; immovable as a statue, seemed not to see the speaker, and once more, the officer half whispertd his injunction. "Eh?" the Governor turned "I thank your Excellency! Your Ex? cellency is most kind!" said the mountebank in a loud, emphatic tone. "And tier ladyship9" prompted the officer. The clown looked at the girl; hei breath came fast through her parted lips. "Speak, fool! To her ladyship you also owe much." "Much!" repeated the clown, a spark in the dull gaze still fastened upon her. "Is that all you can say?" "Take him away!" My lady spoke almost wildly. "Yes; take him away!" With a querulous gesture his Excellency put an end to the matter. "Am I to be in? terrupted in important affairs by ?very miserable farceur, or buffoon, you pick up on the beach? To the devil with the fellow!" When the door had closed on the mountebank and the commandant, he turned to his daughter. "A madcap trick!" Frowningly his Excellency regarded her. "To have gone Into the town and mingled with the rabble! But," shaking his head and then suf? fering that expression of disapproval to relax into severity, "say nt> more about it! Here," indicating the letter, "la something of greater moment, tc be attended to and answered!" CHAPTER XX. - 1 The Mountebank and the Soldier. | As the mountebank walked out ol 1 the apartment of the Governor's daughter, he drew himself up with an air of expectancy, like a man prepar? ing for come sudden dir. ax. Once be? yond the threshold, his eyes glanced fur*'"^y back at the closed door, and, dtS^SAUU^ ?l>c ^t^iri to ;'v f: ' L-o low, he carried his head a little for vard. as If intent to catch unwanted sound or outcry. Hut no raised voice j or unusual noise reached his ear. and his footstep;, as the party Issued for h into the street, responded briskly to the soldiers' oace. Still with the same air of strained attention, now mlugled with i trace of perplexity, he followed his guard until called upon rb st t] "Ylu ?r< to i>] : beret" Ai ^e | ?poke, the commandant opened the door of what seemed a low out-build lng, not very far from the general bar? racks, and motioned the mountebank to enter. The latter, after glancing quickly at the speaker and the sol? diers behind, bent to steD across the oarK threshold, and, still stooping, oh account of the low roof, looked around blm. By che faint glimmer of light from a lantern one of the soldiers held, the few details of that squalid place were indistinctly revealed: A single stall whose long-eared occupant turned Its head inquiringly at the ab? rupt appearance of a companion lodger; bits of harness and a number of traps hanging from pegs on the wall, and, near the door, on the ground, a bundle of grass, rough fod? der from the marshes close by the shore. This last salt-smelling heap, the officer, peering in with a fastidious ' sniff, indicated. I I "That's your bed! A softer one than you would have had but for the Lady Elise!" j j The prisoner returned no answer, and in the voice of a man whose hu? mor was not of the oest, the command? ant uttered a brief command. A mo? ment or two the. light continued to pass fitfully about the stable; then it I and the n ovlng shadows vanished; a key grated in the door, and the sound of the officer's receding footsteps was ; followed by the diminishing clatter of i men's heels on the flagging stone. Not I until both had fairly died away In the , distance and the silence was broken 1 only by certain indications of restive | ness from the stall, did the prisoner move. First, to the door, which he tried and shook; then, avoiding the pile of fodder, to the wall, where, feeling about tho rough masonry with the energy of one who knew he had no time to spare, his hands, ere long, ! encountered the frame of a small win ' dow. Any gratification, however, ho might have experienced thereat found Its offset in tho subsequent discovery thst the window had heavy iron blinds, closed aid fastened, and was further guarded by a single strong bar set In the m (idle, dividing the one incon? siderable aperture into two spaces of Impassable dimensions. Hut as if spurred by obstacles to greater oxer* tloiiB, fiercely the man grasped tho metallic barrier, braced himself, and put forth his strength. In Its setting of old masonry, ths rod moved slight I ly; then more and more, und the prls? j oner, breathing b moment hard, gird* d I himself nnew. A wrench, a tug. and the bar, partly disintegrated, snapped In the middle, and holding the pieces, the prisoner fell Eomewhat violently back. Armed now with an Implement that well might serve as a lever, he, nevertheless, paused before endeavor? ing to force tho formidable fastenings of the blinds; paused to tear off the tight-fitting clown's cap; to doff the costume of the mountebank covering the rough, dark garments beneath, and vigorously to rub bis face with some mixture he took from his pocket. He had made but a few passes to remove the distinguishing marks of paint and pigment, when a sound without, in the distance, caused him to desist. Footsteps, that grew louder, were coming his way, and, gripping his bar tighter the prisoner grimly waited; but soon his grasp relaxed. The sound was that of a single person, who now paused before the entrance; fumbled at the lock, and, with an impatient exclamation, set something down. At the same time the prisoner dropped his weapon and stooped for the dis? carded garments; in the dark, they es? caped him and he was still searching, when the bolt, springing sharply*back, caused him to straighten. "Are you there, Monsieur Mounte? bank?" The door swung open; an un? certain light cast sickly rays once more within, and beneath the lantern, raised above bis head, innocent of the danger he had just escaped, the round visage of the good-natured soldier who had escorted the mountebank to the auberge des voleura looked amicably and Inquiringly into the darksome hovel. "Yes; what do you want?" the an? swer came more curt than courteous. "What do I want?" the fellow re? peated with a broad smile. "Now that's good! Perhaps it would be more to the point to ask what do you want? And here," Indicating a loaf and jug In his hand, "I've got them, though why the commandant should have cared, and ordered them brought?" "He did?" said the prisoner, with a flash of quick surprise. "Well, I'm not hungry, but you can leave them." "Not hungry?" And the soldier, who seemed a little the worse for liquor, but more friendly in conse? quence, walked in. "I don't wonder, though," he went on, closing the door, hanging bis lantern above and plac? ing the jug on the ground; "in such a foul hole? What you need, comrade, Is company, and," touching significant' ly his breast, "something warmer than flows from the spring of St. Aubert." "I tell you," began the mountebank, when the soldier, staring, got a fair look at the other for the first time and started back. I "Eh? What's this?" "Oh, I took them off! You don't sup? pose I'd sleep In my white clothes in such a dirty?" "Right you are, comrade!" re? turned the other, seating himself be? fore the d~cr on B three-legged stool he found in a corner. "But for tho moment you gave me a start. I thojmht you some other person." "What--person?" "No one tn particular. You might," unbuttoning his coat to draw forth a bottle, "have been any one! But I dare say you have had them off in worse places than this?which, after all, Is not bad, compared to some of the rooms for guests at the Mount!" t "You mcftii?" The n: quntebank j looked first at tho closed blinds; then at the door, and a sudden determina? tion came to his eyes. "Those especially prepared for the j followers of the Plack Seigneur, taken prisoners near Casque, for example!" ''They are dungeons?" j "With Jacques for keeper! The lit-1 tie sexton, we call him, because the' prisoners go generally from the cells i to the pit, and the quicklime Is the i hunchback's graveyard!" "This Jacques?" A growing impa tlence shone ominously from the pris-' oner's glance; his attention, that of a: man straining to catch some expected sound without, focused Itself on the | speaker. "This Jacques?what sort of quarters has he?" 1 "Oh, he lives anywhere; every-j where! Sometimes at the thieves' Inn; again in one of the storehouses "NO On^ In Particular." bear tho wheel. They say. thou* i, he 1b not a great hand to sleep, but pass es most of bis time like a cat, prowl 1 ing In and out the black passage! and tunnels of the Mount Hut.*' abruptly breaking off, "the play?that's what I want to know ftboutl The end! How did It end?1' "im In no mood for talking." ' "Take the bottle, an' It'll loosen your tongue!" "No." "W hnt! you refuse?" "Yes ' ?Tin n." philoi ophh ally, "mutt I drink alone?" "Not here!" "Eh?" "Will you get out, or?" and the mountebank stepped toward the other with apparently undisguised Inten? tion. "So that's your game?" Quickly the soldier sprang to hie feet. "I must teach you a littlo politeness, my friend ?how we deal with uncivil people in the army!" And throwing off his coat, j as ready for a bout at fisticuffs as for an encounter of words, the soldier confronted the clown. "When I'm done, you'll sing that song of the sti k out of the other side of the mouth, and think your wicked peasant re oeived a coddling from his master in comparison!" But the mountebank did not answer ?with words?and the soldier was Btill threatening, and painting dire prophetic pictures of what he intend- j ed doing, when a strong arm closed about him; fingers like iron gripped his throat, and, for some moments thereafter, although of unusual size and vigor, the man was more con? cerned in keeping his feet than in searching his vocabulary for pictur? esque imagery. Then, in spite of his struggles and best endeavors to free himself, he felt his head forced back? wards; the grasp on his neck tight? ened. Still he could not shake off that deadly hold, and, aware that conscious? ness was gradually leaving him, his efforts relaxed. After that, for an In? terval, he remembered nothing; but with returning realization and a vague sense of stiffness in his throat, in a rough sort of way was prepared to ac? cept defeat; acknowledge the other's supremacy, and seal that acknowledg? ment over the bottle. Only the mountebank afforded him no opportunity thus to toast the "best man;" with a long strap of leather snatched from one of the pegs, he had already bound the hands and fee' of his bulky antagonist, and was just ris? ing to survey his handiwork, when the other opened his eyes. "Here! What do you mean?" ex claimed the soldier, when even the power vocally to express further sur-x prise or indignation was denied him, In consequence of something soft be? ing thrust between his teeth; and mute, helpless, he could but express In looks the disgusted Inquiry his lips refused to frame. "No; it's no Joke," answered the mountebank, rapidly passing an end of the strap, binding the soldier, about a post of the stall and securing It, sailor-wise. "A poor return for hos? pitality, yet needs must, when the devil drives!" quickly seizing a hand? ful of marsh grass from the ground and rubbing it over his face. "Any? how, you'll be none the worse on the morrow," stepping toward the lantern, "while I?wbo can say? He laughs best?" About to blow out the flame, he stopped, attracted by something his foot had thrust aside; a garment; the soldier's! A moment he surveyed it; eioor<d; picked It up. "Unless I am mistaken," casting aside his own coat, slipping on that of the soldier, and then donning the latter's cap, which had fallen In the struggle, "we are about of a size. And this sword," un? fastening the belt from the prostrate jailer, "should go with the coat." A moment his words, tense, reckless, continued to vibrato in the soldier's ears, then: "1,1 losvo you the lan? tern |" And darkness fell over tho place. Boldly, a little uncertainly, as the Boldler had walked the mountebank, now, to all ai pearance, a man of the ranks in the service of his Excellency, the Governor, strode down tho wide, stone-paved way separating the out? houses from the officers' quarters, hard against the ramparts. In the sky's dome the stars still shone, although a j small mottled patch of cloud obscured the moon; on either side no lights ap? peared in windows, and friendly shad? ows favored him, until he approached I at the end of the way the broad, open ' entrance between the soldiers' bar? racks and the officers' row. There, set I in stone above the key of the time worn arch, flared a smoky lamp, dimly revealing the surrounding details; but i the young man did not stop; had j drawn quite close to the medieval structure, when unexpectedly another tread, on the soldiers' side of the entrance, mingled with his own; rang for a moment in unison; then jingled out of time. He who approached came to a sudden standstill; cast a quick glance over his shoulder, only i to be brought to an abrupt realization ! that it was now too late to retreat A black silhouette, suddenly precipitated across the pavement, precede** a dark I figure that stepped quickly out and 1 barred the way. while at the same I time, a voice, loud and Incisive, chal* : lenged. j - tTO BE CONTINUED) ? Sweet the Monkey" Had HflOdoo Bone. a negro who is up In lore of the mysterious Kind says that the reason "Sweet the Monkey" cannot be caughl Is th.it he has raten the hones ,,f h bluck i at. This doctor of the occult, s ys th.it the receipt for get? ting Invisible is to kill ;i black rat, boll all of the flesh off of its bones .ui.i stand In front ..f a looking glass and eal the kones until >??u get to one which when eaten you will not see yourself in the glass, and then you can ever after be invisible at will, nist like the black cat. i r \ ou do not i" Hove I his you can try it Klorence Times. The tit -1 meeting of those interest? ed in and taking part In the U. D. C "County Fair" was held Monday night, \o CLUE To TAMPA "KILLER." Murders and AassmltS Son-ad Terror in Florida City. Tampa, Fla.. < ?c t. 7.?The red light ili.stri< t of this city is terrorized by the operation* of "the killer," a negro, who in the past ten days has killed three persona?two women and a man?and in a period of eight weeks wounded live others, al! wo? men. "The killer" started his ipurafttOtaS as an incendiary. I'aily for several weeks the police and Ore chiefs re? ceived letters telling t'-,*m that unless tho red light district was cut out tho town would be burned. Those let? ters were followed by conflagrations, almost always in the red light dis? trict, sometimes as many as four in <>ne night. Finally "the kller" an? nounced he had decided to wipe out the people rather than the buildings, and the shootings commenced. Each Saturday night for several weeks a woman was shot. At first only negro women were the victims. Two weeks ago "the killer" enter? ed the home of Mrs. Louisa Rodri? guez, on f<th avenue, and shot her dead in the presence of her little son. Mrs. Rodriguez was not a member of the red light fraternity but had mov? ed into that section. She was his first white victim. Wednesday night of this week Patrolman Godwin was shot at by "the killer," and he re J turned the fire, but the negro got away. Thursday night "the killer' shot through an open window and fatally wounded Viola Danford, a white woman inmate of a house of ill fame. She died last night and one hour after her death "the killer" got another victim, Vincenzo Canroa, manager of a small grocery in the red light district. Canroa was instant? ly killed. The police have made arrests right along, but after each arrest got a let? ter from "the killer" telling them that they had the wrong party. Some be? lieve that there is an organization i here similar to the "before day" ?angs that have at times terrorized Other Southern cities. Rirds and Game. James Henry Rice seems to be the guardian and protector of the birds of the State. He is acting for the Au dubon Society, the object of wtych is to care for birds and promote their increase. It is a laudable attempt on the part of the society, and Mr. Rice has given the subject much atten? tion. Our State laws seek to protect the game birds and to prevent the kill* I ing of all not on the game list. That I Is all well enough, but there are j some things about birds which the K-ime wardens and Mr. Rice do not ' give advice on. The disappearance of birds when they are not hunted is a problem not easily understood. On a large tract of land, or rather on several COntingUOUS tracts, in Cher? okee County a few years ago quail and doVOS were abundant and the hid? ing places on streams echoed with bird music all day. There were acres of woods, old lields and thickets for hiding and nesting places. In the early >pring of 1911, a dozen covies of quail were located just before mat? ing time. They were quite gentle, for they had not been disturbed by hunt? ers. But when fall came there were not as many birds as there were in the spring. No hunting was done during thb winter Sgd there were a few left. They were not disturbed and it was expected that they would show up this fall. Hut tenants on the faim report that they have not seen the birds this fall. Doves have also disappeared. It |S seldom that one is heard cooing in the spring. Bluebirds* the wood pecker ami sapsucker families have all died or migrated. Very few\ small birds are seen in the swamps and thickets. Rabbits have boon abundant until this \ ear. but inquiry brought out the fact that there arc no rabbits where they wen abundant a fest years ago, The fov. wild turkey and pheasant have also migrated, it looks ss it" the Piedmont section would soon he u gameless country. It is not know whether this con? dition is general or confined to a lim? ited territory. Last winter there were not enough quail in the county to start hunting stories, if Mr. Rice win ui\e some Information on this subject, it will be read I > the peo? ple -Spartanburg Journal, Mrs. llouiand Entertain?. ! Mrs. Simon K. Rowland was tho , lo stess Monday evening at a reoep | lion given in honor of Miss Elisabeth [Welkins of Henderson. N. i\. who is visitlng Mrs. Rowland at her home on West Hampton avenue, \ large number of guests were present to meet Mis< WatUins a id the evening eras very pleaeant% passed in playing progressive fames. The prise for ladles a*as swarded to Miss Mabel Farrotl and for gentlemen to Mr William Crowson Jr. Delightful re? freshments were served during I is 1 e\ en Ing,