Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-03-04

and its shadows. "Annei" he cried.
''Annei Are you awaken
ssWhat is ftp" I said, sitting up and
looking at him.
Marie" he began, ''has-''
But there was no need for him to
| finish. I saw that Marie was standing
at the far side of the room by the I'M
glazed window; which, being in a
sloping part OF the roof. inclined slight
ly also. He had raised the shutter which
closed it, and on his tip-toes-for the
sill was almost his own height from the
floor was peering out. I looked
sharply at Croisette. 'tIs there a gut
ter outsider" I whispered, beginning
TO tingle all over the thought of es-
cape for the first time occurred to me.
NO." he answered in the same tone.
But Marie says he can see beam be-
low. which he thinks we can reach.'
1 sprang up, promptly displaced
Marie, and looked out. When my
eyes grew accustomed to the gloom
I discerned dark chaos of roofs
and gables stretching as far as I
could see before me. Nearer, imme-
diately under the window, yawned a
chasm-a narrow street. Beyond this
was a house rather lower than that in
which we were, the top of it's roof not
quite reaching the level of my eyes.
81 see no BEAM said.
Look below!" quoth Marie, stolidiy.
did SO, and then saw that Is or 16
feet below our window there was a
narrow beam which ran from our house
to the opposite one-for the support of
both, as is common in towns. In the
shadow near the far end of this-it was
SO directly under our window that I
could only see the other end of it
made out easement, family illumi-
mated from within.
l shook my head.
eve cannot get down to it, said,
measuring the distance to the beam
and the depth below it, and shivering.
Marie says we can, with a short
rope" Croisette replied. His eyes were
glistening with excitement.
"But we have no rope!" I retorted.
I was dull-as usual. Marie made no
answer. Surely he was the most stolid
and silent of brothers. l turned to
him. He was taking off his waistcoat
and neckerchief.
'Good!" 1 cried. begin to see now
Off came our scarfs and kerchiefs
also, and fortunately they were of home
make, long and strong. And Marie had
a hank Of four-ply yarn in his pocket
as it turned out, and / had some stout
new carriers, and two or three yards Of
thin cord, which I had brought to
mend the girths, if need should arise.
In five xxyo bod thar,
cunningly together.
81 am the lightest," said Croisette.
But Marie has the steadiest head"
I objected. We had learned that long
ago-that Marie could walk the coping
stones of the battlements with as little
concern, as we paced plank set on the
ground.
''True," Croisette had to admit.
"But he must come last, because who
ever does so will have to let himself
down.
I had not thought of that, and I
nodded. It seemed that the lead was
passing out of my hands, and might
resign myself. Still one thing would
have. As Marie was to come last, I
would go first. My weight would best
test the rope. And, accordingly, it was
so decided.
There was no time to be lost. At any
moment we might be interrupted. So
the plan was no sooner conceived than
carried out. The rope was made fast
to my left wrist. Then I mounted on
Marie's shoulders. and climbed-not
without quavering through the win
dow, taking as little time over it as
possible, for bell was already pro-
claiming midnight.
All this [ had done on the spur of the
moment. But outside, hanging by my
hands in the darkness, the strokes of
the great bell in my ears, had mo-
ment in which to think. The sense
of the vibrating depth below me, the
airiness. the space and gloom around,
frightened me. Are you ready2'' NUT
tered Marie, perhaps with little i'm
patience. He had not a scrap of mag
nation, had Marie.
''No. wait minute!' blurted out.
clinging to the sill, and taking a last
look at the bare room, and the two dark
figures between me and the light.
moi" 1 added, hurried1y. "Croisette
boys, L called you towards just now.
l take it back! / did not mean it!
That is ALI" I gasped. Let go!''
A warm touch on my hand. Some
thing like sob.