The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1898-03-12

| pool, ran noiselessly across the hall,
and was on the window sill getting
out when the Mongolian's head ap
peared above the stairs. He saw me
uttered an inarticulat2, cultural sound,
and swiftly followed me. l made a
spring, reached the ladder and climbed
to- the roof. l would not descend to
the yard-the chances of escape were
less that way, for the wooden fence
round the yard was very high, and
as the houses on either side were un-
occupied it would be quite possible for
me to be murdered without any neigh
bors hearing my cries. If once l could
reach the fiat roof of our house |
thought 1 would be safe, for the roofs
of the houses in our block were as
well known to me as the street. l
was something of a tomboy, and on
evenings when the cats made the night
air hideous with their concerts, Tom
and | used often to go on the roofs and
hunt them, sometimes chasing them
the whole block, he clad in his paJamas
and l in my cycling suit.
1t was therefore an easy matter for
me to climb the ladder, but Just as l
had crossed the roof and was about
to drop myself on the next, which was
lower than ours, the dreaded celestial
head again appeared, this time just
above the last rung of the ladder. Oh,
if only l had the power to hurl him
down before he reached the roof. /
tore at the bricks in the chimney, but
not one would loosen. There was moth
ing to be done but to u and to scream
in the hope of attracting the attention
of some passer-by on the street be-
low, but when I opened my mouth to
cry out no sound would come from my
parched throat. My gymnastic train
ing stood me in good stead. |
ran, dropped to the lower roofs,
climbed to the higher ones with
the agility of a monkey. But still ]
would have had no advantage over my
pursuer had it not been for my superior
knowledge of the roofs. The Chinaman
followed me swiftly. Though | dared
not look back. | could hear his quick
breathing not. far behind.
When we got near the end of the
block l lodged my pursuer and doubled
on my tracks. For Il moment he seemed
puzzled; | seized the opportunity,
Slipped quickly behind him, grasped his
pigtail, jerked him backward; he lost
his balance and fell on his back. Then
| Il to the edge of the roof overlook
ing the street and screamed; to my sur
prise, my voice had come back and my
scream was heard by a man passing on
the opposite side of the street. He
stopped and looked around ~bewildered.
| screamed again, and, guided by the
sound, he looked up and saw me; the
moon was just rising behind the house,
and my form was clearly outlined
against the light the moon threw before
it. But my shouting had also shown the
Chinaman my whereabouts; he had re-
coverd himself and was again after me.
I could hear his quick, animal painting
just behind me. ran on, he following,
but hope now gave added speed to my
steps; help would soon be mine; for
n crowd had gathered on the street,
and seemed clearly to realize my Ian
ger. Men ran to and fro, or eagerly con
suited together. and presently a num-
Der of workmen came along dragging a
fireman's ladder. This they placed
against one of the houses: men
swarmed up like flies. and in less time
than it takes me to tell it the Chinaman
was seCured-strangely enough, he
made no resistance and did not appear
to be armed-and we were both taken
down.
When the crowd heard what the Mon
golian had done. they decls red they
would lynch him then and there. They
tore him from the policeman who had
him in charge. dragged him to the near
est tree. which was not far. for our
street was planted with trees; a rope
was brought from somewhere, and, de-
spite the wretchcd mans pleadings i'll
impaSSionCd Chinese for mercy, was
slipped around the branches. At that
moment Il broad-Shouldered man broke
through the crowd and demanded the
cause of the uproar. 1t was Tom. The
mob paused to explain. | ran to my
DrOJncr- cllnP 10 MS aTUl. anu DetNtcn
my incoherent words and their eXpla-
nations, he at last gathered the mean
ing we wished to convey, but still he
looked puzzled.
"Ncllie? Did l understand you to say,
Dora. that it was Nellie this man muir
dered?"
"Yes."
"Why, l have come straight from the
house, and Nellie was there as well as
she ever was in her life, only anxious
at your long absence and curious to
know the cause of the disturbance in
the street"
There must be some mistake" / an
swered. Il saw her blood streaming
from under our bedroom door. Per-
haps it was her spirit you saw"
a pretty substantial spirit, then, I
must say, and one that al enjoy NUT
ton chops and fresh eggs as we'll as a
mortal. Come right along, boys" turn
ing to the crowd, land see for your
selves that my sister is all right. Come,
Dora
He drew my arm within his W and