Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-01-21
lCONTINUED.l
CHAPTER VII.


his chair to the opposite wall, where his
head, still bearing the slouch hat,
lo0med up like the crest of some noun
tain peak, while his massive figure, with
the legs crossed, did not stir. Whenever
| stole a glance at him L caught the
gleam of the keen eyes fixed upon me
as if they would pierce me through.
Had | not removed my gaze | should
have become fascinated like bird be-
fore rattlcsnako
The young man by the window still
kept his eyes closed. His face showed
Just above his knees and was as calm as
childs 1t was easy for him to feign
sleep, but did not believe he was do
ing so, since no motive could be lmag-
ined for such pretense.
resolutely held my gaze away from
the terrible bearded face for fully 10
minutes, during which my own pre-
tense of unCOnsciOusness continued.
Then / stole a glance at him and with
feelings that cannot be imagined per-
ceived that his eyes, too, were closed.
There was a strong probability that
the fellow was as wide awake as ever,
for it was easy to understand that he
wished to induce an attempt on my
part to escape SO as to gain the preteXt
for winding up the business by shoot
ing me. And yet in the tense condition
of my nerves l preferred he should do
so than for me to wait for the horrors
of the morrow.
For ten minutes | did not remove my
scrutiny from Cy Walters countenance,
and during that time he was as a dead
man, but whether really asleep or not
could be learned only by subjecting my
self to tie test of life or death. was
ready for it.
1t will Ie perceived that for me to
escape from my jailcrs must cross the
floor to the window beside the young
man, raise the sash and climb or leap
out into the darkness. If that were aC
complishcd, could run for it, but the
chances of doing all this without awak-
ing either of the men, especially the
elder, was one in a million. Neverthe
less was resolved upon it.
With preliminary glance around
nOiselessly removed my feet from the
chair on which they had been resting.
But for the heavy breathing which filled
the room the silence was like that of
the tomb. Pausing only q moment, |
gathered my muscles for the decisive
effort. My intention was that if detect
ed and challenged by either of the men
| would make dash across the room
and plunge through tho sash, carrying
glass and framework with me. When
the quickness of both of my jailers is
considered, the madness of my scheme
will surprise every one.
Had there been but single man |
would have snatched his weapon and
got the drop on him. While cool rea-
sOning told me | was inviting my own
death l did not hesitate, and l was in
the act Of rising to my feet when | was
struck almost dumb by an astounding
discovery.
Not once during all those trying min
utes did the single star far away in the
horizon fail to beam upon me. The sky
was cloudless, but without moon. 1t
was instinct rather than reason that led
me to look for the twinkling orb at the
moment Of rising from the chair. 1t
had suddenly become invisible and was
under an eclipse.
Something intruded in the field of
vision and shut out it's light. The OBJ
ject was outside the window and had
come up from the ground. l saw the
outlines and the reflection of pair of
eye y person was crouching at the
ledge aud peering in at me, his coming
being as noiseless as that of shadow
itself
He might be friend, and he might
be an enemy, but the probabilities were
in favor Of the former, First glancing
at the grim Cy Walters l waved my
hand in salutatiOn to the stranger out
side, and he made a gesture by way Of
reply, but in the gloom l could not
clearly make it out,
While still puzzling over the matter
the window sash slowly rose for an
inch or two! The stranger must be
friend or he would not do that. The
stiffness was profound, and the individ-
ual was working with consummate eau
tiOn and skill, for with my sense of
hearing keyed to the highest point and
able to hear the rustling of leaf it
was impossible to detect the slightest
noise.
Again the sash began rising, the mo-
tion continuing until it was at Il height
Of six inches, when it rested. My impa.
tience became intolerable. Why did not
my friend lift the sash high enough for
me to make my plunge before either of
my enemies awoke? l was ready to
start across the floor, but was restrained
by the belief that l would receive the
signal when it was safe to give it.
Again the window frame began
climbing like the movement of a sloth,
but to my evaporation it halted before
reaching the necessary height for me to
pass beneath, Then an arm was thrust
through the opening thus made and a
hand extended toward the sleeping
Archie Hunter The hand was reaching
for the revolver in the loose grasp of
the sleeper, and it belonged not to a
man, but - woman.
The hand and bare arm partly re-