The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-15
A board 1t undoubtedly was, OF sound

III,
a man. of steady nerve to walk upon IT.
Where did it lead? A large building
was before US, looming up like castle.
I knew it was tenement OF some sort'
and the plank seemed to extend from the
gutter of our roof to porch OF some
kind in the rear Of the other tenement :.
Ah! hau it. This porch was made OF
iron, and was really portion OF q
modern fire escape.
Looking up, I could just distinguish
another like it, outlined against the sky.
OF course there were more below. 1t
could not be the idea of Colonel Cain to
remain upon the roofs longer than ne
could help The ground was his only
hope Of escape.
/ could now see exactly how be hoped
to make this anchorage
Upon this plank then depended our
hope Of escape.
Had It been missing we should be capt
ured beyond doubt
The reader con imagine that had no
slight task before me.
A slip on my part would send me doWp
to death.
To man of ordinary nerve 1t Woulo
not have been much Of q job to have
crossed over in the daytime. Two short
steps would have accomplished it.
In the night time, however, the plank
was all but invisible. dared not put
my foot down without first feeling tnat
it was in the center Of the plank.
Shutting my teeth hard, made the
forward movement
There was period OF suspense that
appeared longer to me than 1t really must
have been.
Then my outstretched hands came In
contact with an iron railing.
Eagerly clutched it, and feeling OF
relief went through my frame as real
lied that was safe.
The Colonel was there and helped ma
to Chamber over the railing. Then as ne
bent down did likewise.
found that he had the plank securel!
wedged between two scrolls in the iron.
work OF the porch, so there could moi
have been much chance Of its working
loose while one was crossing.
He was desperately engaged now in
working this end Of the plank loose.
I saw tho Idea at once. 1t would cut
off immediate pursuit by isolating The
fire escape from the adjoining roof.
BY our united efforts VIC managed to
get the plank FREQ from its fastenings.
"Down with it, Joslyn."
The officers wore investigating the de-
scent from the upper 10 tho lower roof.
I could see q dark lantern in use. II
they should turn it upon US thcy might
discover something to their advantage.
We released our hold on the plank.
It went surging downward a. once,
but being heavy, fell like rock, SO that
no sound was mado until Il reached the
bottom, when there came sudden crash,
and all was still again.
One Of the officers was now hanging
over the gutter above, and the man with
the lantern dared not turn it away, as
the light was needed right there.
This assisted US. We had no sooner
allowed the plank to drop than the Col
onel's arm was placed on my shoulder,
and he drew mo back.
@Here's the way down, comrade. We
haven't second to lose. They'll open
fire on US if they throw the light this
way"
There was small opening at the
other end Of the iron porch. Below this
depended an iron ladder. which in turn
reached down to the next landing.
In this way the descent could be made
to the bottom. These fire escapes are
daily growing more common in certain
portions OF the great city. Their utility
is unquestioned, If the. can be only kept
clear, but the inmates Of tenements
seem to look upon the porches rs derosi-
tories of truck and sleeping places dur
ing the hot nights OF summer.
The way we went through that open.
ing was a caution. No danger now OF
tho ladder giving way.
On the porch below We landed In the
midst of family enjoying a sound sleep
upon their open couch.
Our advent among them was the ca,sso
Of much CONSERVATION. But one idea
prevailed, and this was that the house
must be on fire, and the people above
were taking advantage Of them
So they followed US as well as possible,
but in the jam the opening was filled,
and there they stuck, screaming and
cursing at rate TO awaken the dead.
I have often looked back with consid-
erable amusement to that scene, but just
then / had no time to enjoy it.
OF course the attention Of the officers
would be directed toward this point now,
and we could hardly hope to escape dis
covery, unless Te were exceeding spry
about getting down.
Other difficulties mot MS.
More people were upon the fire escape,
and we had to push through or over
them.
"Fire! fire!n rang out on the night air.
A bedlam ensued, the like OF which IL
has never heen my fortune to hear since.
Men swore in seven languages. whila
women and children ran tho scale back
ward and forward with their shrill
cries.
One would have thought mcnagerio
had broken loose in the Ieighborhood.
In the midst OF this racket we hung
from the lower porch and dropped, rcach'
ing the ground in safety.
Then my companion lei the way to an
arche6 passage, opening the Goor as no
went witN what seemed magic s;ght-of-
hand.
From this we emerged and found orr
selves walking hastily down the street.
Colonel Cain had cludcd his truckers to
fall victim to one more keen.
CHAPTER Xxx.
There has always been love OF sd-
venture in my system. Many time
during the past has it cropped out, but
+b{o nipht noO1d 7 cav that II