The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-02

shutters. and might prevent the noise
of an escape being heard in case one
was possible.
Thick clouds were flying over the
sky. obscuring the moon, Just rising
Il could see that my room was in the
back of the house on the floor below
the attic. and that | looked out on 4
yard bounded by a wall too high to
scale. and, no doubt, made SO pur-
posely.
'.Bcneath me on the first floor a win
dow shot forth bright streams of light
illuminating the ground where ! would
have To drop. Every now and then
moving shadows there showed plainly
that inside that window were my
watchers waiting TO dispose of my
corpse a. soon as il was ready.
The house stood by itself, other
wise ! might be able to somehow climb
into the next. as had seen fireme do
with a scaling ladder.
That gave me an idea. If ! could
rig a ladder Of that kind might reach
the roof. cross it and escape 10y climb
ing down the water pipe in front 10 the
street, which. thanks To my athletic
college culture, / would be probably
able to do.
How quickly persons wits viii
act som etimes when death seems sure
and soon
Il looked around the room for mate
rial To make my scaling ladder, which
seemed my only hope.
Two bed Stats luckily found be-
meath my mattress. The wire which
hung the old soldiers picture and
others on the wall bound them securely
together.
Il had a knife Of many blades, one
being "A Scrcw-driver. In the closet
were large and strong clothes hooks.
Quickly unscrewed four and as quick
ly put them upside down ON my Stats
to within few inches of the top. Half
"A dozen chair rugs, which ! easily got
from some chairs, bound At proper dis
tances on the Stats with the picture
wire made my scaling ladder complete
and thought strong enough TO support
my weight. If it wasn't I'd be killed
anyway.
Il locked at my bed. The canopy
was three-quarters Of the way down. !
had no more time to lose. Taking the
gold, which had been tied tightly in
my handkerchief and placed under my
pillow by my loving host. fastened il
noiselcssly went TO the window with
my ladder. Peering above ] could see
the cutters edge and raising the ladder
found it reached and managed To hook
IL fast. Then got out Of the window
sih and prepared to mount.
Trying il carefully with my weight,
which made il swing inward against
the house, thereby holding better. ]
nerved myself and stepping from the
sill began my perilous ascent
Half way up ! Thought of the win
dow of the room above where the ma
chinery for my suffocation was being
worked--but it was too late TO retreat
and ! must take the chance Of not be-
ing detected by the worker.
when my head came alb owe the gut
ter ! saw a light inside that room. but
the curtain was fortunately drawn
over the glass. With strong but trem-
bling arms | raised myself on the gut
ter and quietly pulling the ladder after
me crawled along like cat TO the
corner of the house. As / expected,
the mansard roof had the CUTTERS
ledge all around IL, but before / could
turn its corner my escape was discov-
cred, and | heard low voices evidently
proceeding from the wi ndow / had Just
climbed out Of. In another moment
men with lanterns and fierce dog
were searching the yard, thinking. of
course, that / must have gotten down
into it.
Not daring to move and fearing that
the bright moon then breaking through
a rift in the clouds would expose me to
the fellows below. ] fiattcncd myself
against the roofs edge and waited
Then the moon burst forth shining di-
rcctly where 1 hid and / saw or felt
that the searchers had found me. for
leaving the yard they reentered the
house and | could hear them calling TO
the worker in the attic room behind
me. Like a snake but quicker (
squirmed around the house corner to its
front. found the water pipe and grasp
ing II let myself over and down and
Slid without much trouble but with
many scratches to the street Just az the
front attic window opened and a head
came forth.
"Nhen stopped running was blocks
away and safe with my hard-earned
.old and only half dressed, but ] found
little inn where people were honest
md there rested. until daybrealx among
lot of early-rising market folks who
we're polite enough To ask no questions.
Not wishing Ia make a scandal con-
,erning myself. in which ease | would
nave lost not only my reputation hut
ny bag of gamblers gold. | said moth
ng to the police.'-H. G Dodge in
,ioodalls sun.