Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-14

Il
low the attic and that l looked out on
yard bounded by wall too high to
scale and, no doubt made SO purpose
ly.
| Beneath me on the first floor 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 rs soon rs il was ready.
THE house stood by itself, otherwise
/ might be able TO climb into the next,
as had seen firemen do with a scaling
| ladder
That gave me an idea. If could
rig ladder of that kind might reach
the roof, cross it and escape by climb
ing down the water pipe in front TO
| the street which, thanks to my athletic
college culture | would be probably
able TO do.
How quickly persons wits will
act sometimes when death seems sure
and soon.
Il looked about the room for mate
rial to make my scaling ladder, which
seemed my only hope.
Two bed Stats luckily l found be-
meath my mattress. The wire which
hung the old soldiers picture and
others on the wall bound them secure
ly together.
II had knife of many blades one
being a screw-driver. In the closet
were large and strong hooks. Quickly
| unscrewed four and as quickly put
them upside down on my Stats to with
in a few feet of the top. Half dozen
chair rungs, which | easily got from
some chairs, bound at proper distances
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.
II looked 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
ii about my waist and in stocking feet
noiselessly went to the window with
my ladder. Peering above | could
see the cutters edge and raising the
ladder found il reached and managed
to hook it fast. Then | got out on the
window sill and prepared to mount.
Trying it carefully with my weight.
which made it swing inward against
the house, thereby holding better
nerved myself and stepping from the
sill | began my perilous ascent.
'Haif 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 lot be-
ing detected by the worker.
when my head came above the
gutter | saw Il light inside that room,
but the curtain was fortunately drawn
over the glass. With strong but
trembling arms raised myself on the
gutter and quietly pulling the ladder
after me crawled along like cat to
the corner of the house. As | expect
ed. the mansard roof had the cutters
ledge all around it, bat before | could
turn it's corner my escape was discov-
cred, and heard low voices evidently
proceeding from the window | had
just climbed out Of In another mo-
ment men with lanterns and fierce
dog were searching the yard, think
ing. of course. that | must have got
ten down into it.
Not daring TO move and fearing that
the bright moon then breaking through
"a rift I'm the clouds would expose me
to the fellows below, flattened myself
against the roofs edge and waited.
Then the moon burst forth shining di-
rectly where | hid and | saw or felt
that the searchers had found me, for
leaving the yard they re-entered the
house and ! could hear them calling to
the worker in the attic room behind
me. Like snake, hut quicker, l
squirmed around the house corner To
its front, found the water pipe and
grasping it let myself over and down
and slid without much trouble, but
with many scratches to the street just
as the front attic window opened and
"a head came forth.
when stopped running | was
blocks away and safe with my hard
earned gold and only half dressed, but
| found IA little inn where people were
honest and there rested until daybrea
among "A lot of early-rising market
folks who were polite enough to ask
no questions.
Not wishing to make IA scandal
concerning myself, in which case |
would have lost not only my reputation
but my bag of gamblers gold, | said
nothing TO the police.
That is the end of the doctors story.
Monkeys a. Coin Testers.