The age-herald., 1898-09-04

was not a chance for bravery, but for sub tie trickery!
 "Wait minute" repeated, fumbiing at my coat sleeve. Suppose l were-were to join you.''
 For minute they glanced around the circle at each other. But the leader shook his head
 "You are few in number" insinuated, 'and am strong!
 "There are enough of us," growled an- other. We don't want the thirteenth man."
 "That mightbring you luck,' I suggest ed desperately, for I was at my wits end.
 Better luck when you are dead" was the blood-curdling remark of another.
 At this they closed in upon me and stepped backward. In that step I found myself on the other side of the palms through the great ragged hole where the unfortunate palm had fallen. I looked at the front door. No, that was impossible They were between me and it. Pretending to arrange my clothing managed to glance backward and beheld a door at the far end of the big room. Into what did it lead?
 "Why not let me join youT' asked again edging backward. 'Impossiblei
 "Kill him." roared two voices. "Then catch me-" cried and, turning, I dashed down through the room and against the door beyond. It was a swing ing door and yielded to my pressure. Dashing 1t backward with all the force of my arm I leaped into the window sill, threw up the window and jumped out. As l jumped l clung to the sash bringing it down and closing it behind me-
 found myself inS a small square back yard with a fence extending all around it.
 Running along and keeping close to the house I sealed the fence and dropped over to the other side.
 As l landed in the next yard heard the crashing of glass and knew that my pur- suers had gained the yard and were only few feet away.
 The yard was square, exactly like the last; and I dared not risk climbing the fence for at the top I would be in easy range.
 No, must escape some other way. There was the back door of the house! turned the knob. The door was unlocked and I walked in. minute later I was climbing the staircase inside strange house. In the back yard l could still hear my pursuers.
 As I went up stairs to the main floor of the house heard laughing voices; and as I reached the parlor door young girl came out.
 "Here he is,'' she said.
 An elderly woman stepped out. Are you the caterer?" she asked.
 ''I beg pardon,' stammered.
 Are you the caterer! Slbt IepSdleu 'The man who was to serve the ices?
 "No-er, why-er, yes"
 "Then serve them at once, you are late!'
 "At once, madame" said respectfully, and stepping to the front door walked out into Washington square.
 For minute I rubbed my eyes to see if I was awake. Yes, next door to me was the tall house with its small restaurant, with the curtains drawn in the basement; and through a tiny crack I could see the palms.
 Turning the other way walked rapidly down the street and a few minutes later I stood in the headquarters of the chief of police.
 Well, we searched the restaurant that night for our anarchists, but no trace of them could be found. The proprietor, stolid German could say nothing next day of his strange guests except that, once fortnight, they hired his hall for meeting. He did not know their names.
 They might have doubted me at police headquarters had I not shown them the broken glass and pointed out my boot tracks upon the fence.