Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-11-22

\ Ofmy guards My late, was sealed--a
terrible fate, surely. | knew how idle
it was to hope for any mercy from the
demon, Cuch0ra, and ] also knew
would only waste my strength in pur-
poseless effort, and raise stronger yearn-
ings for life in any attempt to escape
from this strong dungeon.
was not regardless Of the value Of
| life. ! could not face my fate without
u SILVER. | was not brave enough to
look unilinchingly toward the coming
of the morning light, but in all my
yearning for life, in all my terror Of
my coming fate, was not fool enough
TO hope against all conviction and
against the strength Of these prison
walls and prison bars.
Suddenly, while in this mood Of min
gled despair and resignation y low
"hist' sounded just outside the grated
window. stopped abruptly in my cx
cited pacing up and down the apart
ment.
"SenoT Americana, are you unhurt?
q soft voice, seeming to tremble with
emotion, asked
ayes. What wish your asked,
suSplcl0usly.
:" BE quiet" the voice answered hur-
ricdly. "fhe guard is drinking with
his comrades, and if you are cautious
you may escape"
Was this tleaohcry TRIP set by
my guard totorture me by some un-
suspected method? ! hcsitated. Who
was this mysterious friend?
Clutching the ledge of the grated
opening, drew myself up TO u level
with it and peercd out, dropping back
with an exclamation Of amazement.
II WINS afemale figure that ! beheld
dressed in sombre robes and closely
yelled, bnt, nevertheless, n delicate
slight figure.
While gasped and puzzled over tins
discovery, she, with nervous haste was
busted, bv means of II short lever, III
prying off the clamps that secured the
iron bars of the aperture. After II few
minutes Of this silent excrti0n she
passed the lever through the grating
"You have only to insert this between
the bars and pry earthly toward you,"
she said; they will drop out"
With all the energy OF u newborn
hope of liberty | clutched the weapon
and placed il in position; but ere ] could
throw my weight upon it heard II
sharp cry from the woman.
"Beware!'
And she had He'd; where, know not;
but intuitively threw down tho bar,and
lay full length on the floor, personating
sleep. | had scarcely done 50 when
the ringing step Of the guard sounded
outside. A cold preparation oozed out
of every pore of my body as | listened
for the death-cry of my unknown fe-
male friend.
But all remained silent outside. Had
she really escaped detection? ltseemed
impossible. After II few minutes the
guard came and peered suspiciously into
my dungeon and then, as If satisfied,
walked away muttering:
"lts very strange! | could have sworn
saw dark object here, moving about
in the shadow of the wall; and ! was
positive heard voices. My fears have
been playing n trick upon me-"
Ten minutes-that seemed ages Of
agony and despair to me--passed, and
still the guard fingered near my dun
geon, with no apparent intention to re-
turn again to his companions. had
just given myself up for lost, when
call came from one of his comrades;
and half hesitating, yet unable to with
stand the temptation, he went to join
him, casting several chances back. But
once within the apartment where his
comrades gambled and drank, his fears
seemed to vanish and his duties were
forgotten.
Scarce was hc concealed from view
before my unknown friend was again
1T the barred window.
"llurry, MS you value liberty she
cried pleadingly. "The guard may re-
turc Mt any moment
With the strength of Hercules, !
wrenchcd out the iron gratngs, and
then, by II mighty effort on my own
part, and by the exertlons Of the tender
hands Of my prcsewcr, managed 70
struggle through tho narrow aperture.
Free again, and standing face to face
with my unknown deliveror, | began to
pour out flood of gratitude to her;
but Reckoning me to be quiet, and
grnsping my hand, she hurried me into
the shadow of the building, and then
stcathily from house to house and
through narrow lanes until, upper
ccivcd We had got half dozen blocks
away from the prison. Hating me in
MI isolated orange grove, She pointed TO
II rather uninyiting- looking mustang,
saying, "He is the only animal |
could capture without arousing sus-
picion. Mount him, and hasten away;
but ride cautiously until beyond the
hearing of tho village. At the forks
take the trail on your left and YOU
w;ll IN snln 4hn nthnr lands ia