Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-22
CHAPTER XXVI.

II. few minutes before, ! had thought
myself the most unlucky of men and placed
by that which had already happened beyond
fear or misfortune, ] knew better when
saw that sight from the window. and fell
back into the darkness, as if even from the
road and through the panes Fergusons s eyes
must discover me. Ignorant whether the
room in which ! stood contained anything
to shelter me. or barewalled must OF re-
cesity discover me TO the first person who
entered with a light, my natural impulse,
when the moment Of panic passed, was 10
escape from It.
Ry that time trembling in every limb,
had rroped my way into the passage the
kew was turning in the lock Of the outer
door; and ] saw myself within an arm
length Of capture. This so terrified me that
/ sprang desperately for the staircase, but
stumbled over the lowest step and fell on
my knees with a crash that seemed to
shake the walls. For & moment the pain
was so sharp that ] could only lie where
l fell; nor when, spurred by the immlnence
OF the danger ! had got 10 my feet could
| more than crawl up the stairs and crouch
down on the landing a little 10 one side,
and out of eyeshot from below.
Willingly now in return for present safety
would ! have forgiven Fortune all her past
bufets! For If Ferguson came up, as
thought him sure 10 come up, ! was lost;
since ! could neither retreat without noise
nor If ] could, knew where 10 hide. In this
extremity, my heart beating so thickly that
! could scarcely listen and thought ] must
choke, J was relieved TO hear Ferguson
after spending what seemed TO me to be
an age, striking flint and steel in the pas
sage-go grumbling into the lower room,
whence q glimmer falling on the wall OF
the passage told me that he had succeeded
in procuring a light.
II was no surprise TO me as ] sweated
and cringed in my hiding place to learn
q he
heard him sWear-Rs ] supposed-at the
open shutter; then, almost before ] had
thanked Providence for present safety. he
was out again in the passage. ] had no
doubt that he was going 10 ascend now
and ] gave myself up for lost But instead
he stood and called Mary Mary Do ye
hear you hussy. II ye are hiding above
there II will be the worse for you ye id
baggagei Come down, dye hear me?"
Surely now, j thought, getting no an
swer he would come up; and my heart
stood. But il seemed he called only to
make sure and not because he thought
that she WIS above; for be went back into
the lower room, and ] heard him moving
NO and fro, and going about TO light
fire, the cracking of which gave an odd
note OF cheerfulness M the house. ! was
beginning 10 weigh the possibility Of slip
ping by the half-opeu door, on the chance
OF hndiug the outer door unfastened and
with this in view had risen TO my feet
NAtn Key again grated IN the lock, and
supposing il to be Smith, ] returned 10
my former position.
Had il been Smith it would have been
some comfort 10 me; for ! thought him
more prudent If no less dangerous than
the plotter and ] fancied that ! had more
10 fear from one than from two. But the
step that entered was lighter than a mans;
while Fergnsou's greeting told the rest and
made the situation clear
Ha, you are here al last, are youi" he
cried with an angry oath. Did you want
me 10 break every bone In your body lass.
that yoU stayed out till now, and ! 10 have
the hre 10 light? You should have
pretty good tale TO tell OF have kept clear
OF this! Dye hear me? SPEAK you viper.
and don't stand there glowering like wood
cSt!"
Il am here now" was the answer. Ny
heart leRpt, for the voice was MEry's: the
tone sullen and weary. ! could under
stand
'Hers novT he retortsd. "And that is