The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-12-07

The road in the rear was some 10 feet
below the level of the parade inside the
quadrangle and consequently, as the
house faced the parade, what was the
ground floor from that front became
the second story at the rear. The
kitchen, stOrerOom and servants rooms
were on this lower stage aud opened
upon the road, an outer stairway ran up
to the center door at the back, but at
the east and west TANKS Of the house
the stone walls stood without port or
window except those above the caves
the doFmers. Light and air in album
dance stTeamed through the broad Vene-
tian windows north and south when
light and air were needed. This night,
as usual, all was tightly closed below,
all darkness aloft as he glanced up at
the dormers high above his head. AS he
did SO his foot struck a sudden and
sturdy obstacle. He stumbled and pitch
ed heavily forward and found himself
sprawling at full length upon ladder
lying on the ground almost in the mid
die Of the roadway.
On those paintersw he growled
between his set teeth. 'They leave their
internal mantraps around in the very
hope of catching me, I believe Now,
who but painter would have left a
ladder in such a place as this?"
Rising ruefully and rubbing bruised
knee with his hand, he limped painful
ly ahead q few steps until he came to
the side wall of the colone's house.
Here a plank walk passed from the road
way along the westSn wall until almost
on a line with the front piazza where
by flight Of steps it was carried up to
the level Of the parade Here he paused
q moment to dust of his clothes and
rearTange his belt and sword. He stood
leaning against the wall and facing tho
gray stone gable end Of the row Of old
fashioned quarters that bounded the
parade mra the southwest All wa
still dsr'r.,s and ii lgc.
Cont -pi this swGrd" he muttercd
again The thing made rattle and
racket enough to wake the dead Won
der if l disturbed anybody at the colo
nel's?"
As though in answer to his sugges-
ton there suddenly appeared, high on
the blank wall before him, the refec-
ton Of faint light Had little night
lamp been turned on in the front room
of the upper story? The CLEAN came
from the north window on the side. BE
saw plainly the shadow Of the pretty
lace curtains ioopcd loosely back. Then
the shade was gently raised, and there
was for an instant the silhouette Of s.
slender hand and wrist and the shadow
of & lace bordered sleeve. Then the light
receded, as though carried back across
the room, waIef, as though slowly eI-
tinguishcd, 49,! tie last shadows showed
/ the curtains >a.l lroped back, the roll
I ing shgd stiil raised.
81 thought 80, he grOwled. Zone
/ tumble like that L enough to wake the
seven sleeperS let alone lovesick girl
who is probably dreaming over Jer-
rold's parting words. She is spirited
and blue blooded enough to have more
sense, too, that superb brunette. All,
Miss Alice, 1 wonder if you think that
fellows love worth having? 1t is two
hours since he lcst you-mOre than that
and here you ;,re awake yet-oannot
sleep, want more air and have to come
and raise Your shade. No such warm
night either. These were his Tefec-
I tion5 as he picked mp his offending
sword and more slowly and cautiously
now CROPPED his way along the western
/ terrace. He passed the row Of bachelor
quarters and was well ont beyond the
I limits Of the fort before he came upon
/ the next sentTy-No. sand recognized
( in the sharp who comes there: and
the stern rattle Of the bayOnet as 1t
dropped to the charge the well known
: challenge Of Private Leary, one OF the
oldest and most reliable soldiers in the
regiment.
10 BIZ CONTINUED