Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-10
Leaving the window partly omen to ad-

Leaving the window partly open to adj
init the cool, gentle breeze, now turned
my attention.to the door, to find that there
was lock but no key There was, how
ever, large bolt at the top Of the door,
which slipped easily into its staple; and
then. as quickly as could, moving it only
. few inches at a time, l contrivetl to place
the head of the bed against the door, and
then sat down, painting, to think
wanted to take out the money and to
tie 1t all up together--silver, gold and
bilets de banque"-in my handkerchief, SO
that II the worst came to the worst, I
might throw il from the window; for l
was determined that it should not go to
those who / felt sure intended to attack
ME. No; they should not have it, /
thought, for | would throw it through
the open window. But no; l dared not
take II from my pockets; the clinking
would perhaps be heard, and ifmy fears
were baseless, would. after all, excite the
cupidity of some one in the house.
Of course did not undress, but sat for
long while debating as to whether |
should put out my candies point decided
by the short piece burning out so that
soon sat upon the edge of the bed in utter
darkness, listening attentively to every
sound, and seeing, in my imagination, the
swarthy Frenchman, stilctto- armed, slow
ly ascending the stairs.
had no difficulty in keeping awake, for
my nerves were strained to their greatest
tension with the excitement, and cold
damp collected upon my forehead and in
the palms Of my hands, AS at last after
several false alarms, heard "A faint breath
ing noise apparently Just outside the door
Rising softly, and with my heart beating
almost TO suffocation, stole to the win.
dow, and stood once more listening, as
there came faint gliding, grating noise;
and though could see nothing, felt that
one of the panels Of the door was so con
trived that it would slide back, and
seemed TO be gazing the next moment upon
a hand thrust through, 10 be laid upon the
bolt,
I The darkness was intense, but | was, |
felt, right, for there came the grating of
the iron, and the bolt was softly shot back
from the staple, and the door pressed in
ward, against the bedstead.
( What could | doy That | should be
murdered if stayed there unarmcd, | felt
assured, and even If could elude my assail-
ant in the dark. II would be only for a few
minutes, for ] must be hunted down at
last, There was no escape, l told myself,
and as the bcdstead creaked with the pres
sure against it, knew that ii must. in
few minutes at most, give way sufficiently
for man TO pass in, and then would come
the struggle for life.
A suflocating groan forced itself from
my breast, and u great trembling seized
upon me, but even then did not think TO
offer the money rs a ransom for my liberty,
bat hurried from one end of the room to
the other in search of way to escape.
Then I stopped short, for there was
whispering outside, and thought had oc-
Cured TO me. Could escape by the win
dow
-Four stories high, and the cruel stones
beneathl
But the bed clothes-could knot them
together, and slide DOWN
A moments reflection told me that tie
idea was madness; and ! leaned out, to
listen il there was any one below to whom
might appeal for help; but all was
still, and my tongue seemed TO refuse its
office. Almost mad with fear climbed
out on the window SILL and looked up
wards
was on the top floor, but the parapet
was above my reach, unless-ycs-the
Venetian shutters each very ladder
every thin bar step 10 climb To safety
il
Ycs--if they would bear my weight.
j shuddered rs at that moment seemed
Ia see the shutter torn from its hinges, and
with me clinging TO it, falling-falling
with fearful crash 10 the pavement be-
meath, and men gathering round TO gaze
upon the sickening spectacle.
But it was my only chance for safety
and upon the roof ! might travel on and
on, and eludc my pursucrs, If they could
reach my refuge by any other way; for |
felt assured that they would not attempt ii
~ my route. But would the shutter bear
this weight?
tried one with my left hand, and It
shook ominously. | stepped quickly to
the other and tried 1t. Firmer, certainly;
but what frail road TO safety! Would ii
Aot be better To stop and encounter my
enemies who were now in the room.
1t seemed the lesser evil to trust to my
activity to reach the roof; and softly plac
ing one foot upon the wood work reached
the top of the shutter, and drew myself up
from the window SILL just rs man leaned
out and uttered an exclamation Of horror.
But could not look down ut him. nor
heed his warning cry TO descend, for all my
weight was now upon the shutter, support.
ed By its hinges and the holder which kept
II back against the stone wall felt il
giving way beneath me; but taking another
step threw up one hand, az with a spas
modic effort drew up my body In what !
knew to be my last struggle for life; and
that hand rested upon the parapet the next
instant my other hand was by Its side. my
feet aided me again for an instant, and then, !
with sharp crack, the shutter gave way,
hung IN my feet fora few moments, when,
as kicked them free and clung there,
heard it fall, after what seemed lifetime
of horror upon the pavement below.
The effect Of that crash below was almost
sufficient 10 make me relax my hold, 40
strangely did 1t jar upon my nerves; but |
my fingers seemed TO grow, as II were, into |
the stone, and hung int the full stretch OF
my muscles, motionlcss for q few moments,
when, forcing myself by pure mental effort |
10 think of my duty 10 fight to the last,
began TO draw myself up, rising slowly till |
my chin was upon the parapct edge, but |
with the weight Of the money seeming To |
drag me down; then one hand was reached |.
10 get better hold, the other fol |
lowed, and ! hardly knew how, but in a
battle Of mind, muscle and weight, ! strug- |