The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-06-29
Hi MAN ON THE ROOF.

teentn street, looking over tue roofs OF tne
block of houses i'm West Thirteententh
street, which bound the north side of that
t~horoughfare from Seventh to Eighth
avenues.
Suddenly ! saw n man mounting n
leader in the ear of one of the houses Oh
Thirteenth street. He climbed like a
monkey. He caught hold OF the copper
gutter which ran along the roof, and, as
gracefully as n b~espangled acrobat, he
swung himself on to the roof, threw nm
self on his breast, and gazed down
into the yard beneath. / fol-
lowed his gaze. and saw two men
looking up at him. / don't know how
long they had been there, but IL seemed
to me that, IL they had had their wits
about them, they would have been up
through the house and to the roof before
the man. perhaps they expected him TO
fall" thought l, as the man disappeared
through the kitchen door OF the house.
As they disappeared, my man started
over towards Seventh avenue. As he ran
he saw me looking at him. There must
nave beer something sympathetic i'm my
appearance, or in the air, for he airily
waved his left hand TO me, as he paused
for q IN Just then one of his hunt
ers popped out of the hatchway in his
rear. In ten seconds the other fol-
lowed. BY that time the hunted had
ceased to run, and was hiding behind a
tall chimney. He kept his eyes upon me,
and not once did he peep around corners.
The hunters looked over towards Eighth
avenue, then over owards Seventh, as IL
unable to make up their minds as TO
which way the hunted ran. Then n OF
them looked over towards me. BY hat
time ] was sitting In my rocker, my slip
pered feet up ON the window-sill. My
heart was beating violently, indifferentas
| must have looked. Thu hunters and
hunted had their eyes upon me, and upon
me alone. i was acting a part, m the
former Knew il! ] felt that they knew It!
The man behind the chimney knew it,too.
His eyes seemed To devour me. Would !
betray him? IL seemed hours before the
hunters walked towards Eighth avenue.
As they started, l in~voluntarily sent an
encouraging pair of eyes in tn direction
of the hunted. He saw me-, understood,
again airily waved his hand to me, and
stood like n statute in his place behind
the chimney. Then sent an encourage
ing nod after the eyes. Fatal mistake!
The eyes of the hunters were upon me.
They wheeled like a startled span Of
hunted like the wind! / turned to look
at him and warn him i'm some way.
but he was gone. Then he flew in the
direction of Seventh avenue, as | have
really excited, for i knew that there
was a thirteen or fourteen-foot alley
ahead of him, before he got to Seventh
avenue. He saw it almost as soon as
thought of il. ran easily mp To IL, turned,
and ran straight at his Pursuers. was
them down-hope to pass them? They
stood petrified with establishment. just
as they were making ready to catch him,
he again turned, and like an antelope he
ran, till he came To the city canon, when.
without n look back, he lcaped into
space.
Ii was an awful moment.
As he lightly touched the roof of the
next house, two pistol shots ran out. They
were afraid to tale the leap, and afraid a
BY this time / was half out of my win
low As i looked, l saw the man run
along the roof of the block on Seventh
avenue, till he was lost to view. Then
fell back I'm my rocker. as weak from ex'
citement as a frightened miss in hel
teens. II do not say Enlightened woman
because l ave never known a woman
who wasn't brave.) Would he get away
thought. The hunters had disappeared
through some hatchway. What had h,
done? ~ Wonder what they are hunting
him for? / said aloud.
"For escaping from a hell upon earth
came the quiet answer
| turned, and saw before me in m,
room. in the twilight, a man of perhap,
"a years Of age. His form was that of al
athlete. He was as graceful in ever,
movement as n trained lightweight priz,
fighter. His hands aud feet were pa
trician. He weighed about one hundred
and fifty pounds. His eyes were as blacl
and as lustrous as n young negroes. Hi
features were too regular, IL anything.
"You will help me to escape" quietly
mot IL you are q criminal" decidedly
"But ] am one, and yet you will aid me
know" as he sat upon the edge of m.
bed and threw n shapely leg over tn
footboard.
"weIIw I blurted.
"And I'll tell you why. Because your
soft-hearted and good"
'But," I feebly protested, ''what is tn
Murder" coolly.
"Then I'll be-"
await a minute," Ia cut in: II am O
good birth and breeding. ! had a twill
death; after that. / idolized her. w
thought father was a wealthy man, till h,
died then we learned that we were PENN
less orphans. mother having died befor
father. We had our way to make in tn
world. 1 was always fond of athlete
sports, as was my sister. We Joined
circus company. for there was enough o
the gypsy In us to make us take kindly Il
rowing life. There was n handsome bu
uncuitivated bareback rider in tina
him. My sister died. l was sentenced 3
life imprisonment in State Prison.
killed a TAILOR, and escaped. / knew tina
had q friend i'm you, the minute | sa,
you interested i'm the man hunt over yon
der. Now give me some money, an
smugRle me to safety. I'll remember yo
some day.
"Neverr' ! almost shouted. II ca
forgive the first murder. but the jailer-
"Insulted me-"
.Oh, indeedv" I sneered: and IL ever
man is To be killed for hurting the sens
tive feeling OF murderers1"