Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-03-07
CHAPTER VII.

that his shadow, huge, grotesque and
misshapen, stretched from the side Of
his chair to the opposite wall, where his
head, still bearing the slouoh hat,
loomed up IKE the crest Of some noun
tain peak, while his massive figure, with
tho legs crossed, did not stir. Whenever
stole a glance at him l caught the
gleam of the keen eyes fixed upon me
as if thoy would pierce me through.
Had not removed my gaze I should
have become fascinated like bird be-
fore rattleSnGke.
The yolng man by the window still
kept his eyes closed. His face showed
Just above his knees and was as calm as
chld's. II was easy for him 10 feign
sleep but did not believe be was do
ing 50, since no motive could be- imag.
ined for such pretense.
resolutely held my gaze away from
the terrible bearded face for fully IL
minutes, during which my own pre-
tense Of unconsciousness continued.
Then stole glance at him and with
feelings that cannot be imagined per.
ceived that his eyes, too. were closed.
There was strong probability that
the fellow was "A wide awake as ever,
for Ii was easy 10 understand that he
wished to induce IN attempt on my
part To escape so Us TO gain the pretext
for winding up the business by shoot.
ing me. And yet in the tense condition
of my nerves 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 dead
man. but whether really asleep or not
could be learned only by subjecting my.
self 90 the test Of life or death. / was
ready Tor IT,
Ii will he perceived that for me to
escape from my jailers must cross the
floor 10 the window beside the young
man. raise the sash and climb or leap
out into the darkness. II that were az
complished. 1 could run for it, but the
chances Of doing oil this without awak-
ing either Of the men. especially the
elder, was ono in 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 filed
the room the silence was like that Of
the tomb. Pausing only moment, /
gathered my muscles for the decisive
effort. Ny intention was that IL detect
ed and challenged by either Of the men
I would make dash across the room
and plunge through the sash, carrying
glass and framework with me. When
tho 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 did not hesitate, and ! 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 q moon. IL
was instinct rather than reason that led
me to look for tho twinkling orb at the
moment of rising from the chair. II
had suddenly become invisible and was
under an eclipse.
Something intruded in the field Of
vision and shut out its light. The OBJ
ject was outside the window and had
come up from the ground. saw the
outlines and the reflection Of u pair OF
eyes. A person was crouching at the
ledge and peering in at me, his coming
being as noiseless as that Of shadow
itself.
He might be q friend. and he might
be an enemy, but the probabilities were
in favor Of the former. First glancing
at the grim Cy Walters, waved my
hand in saluiation 10 the stranger out
side, and he made gesture by way OF
reply, but In the gloom i 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- q
friend or he would not do that. The
stiffness was profound, and the individ.
ual was working with consummate eau
ton and skill, for with my sense Of
hearing keyed TO the highest point and
able to hear the rustling OF q leaf 1t
was impossible to detect the slightest
noise.
Again the sash began rising, the mo-
tion continuing until it was ut height
Of six inches, when 1t rested. My impa
thence became intolerable. Why did not
my friend lift the sash high enough for
me to make my plunge before either OF
nv enemies awoke? was ready to
start across the floor, but was restrained
by the belief that would receive the
signal when it was safe to give II.
Again the window frame began
climbing like the movement Of sloth,
but to my exasperation it halted before
reaching the necessary height for ,ne to
pass beneath. Then an arm was thrust
through the opening thus made and a
hand extended toward the sleeping
Archie Hunter The hand WAY reaching
| for the revolver in the loose grasp oi
the sleeper, and it belonged not to q
man, but TO q woman.
The hand and bare arm partly re-
yealed were such as were chiseled by
Phidias or limned by Angelo. White,
symmetrical and delicate, my admira-
| tion was unclaimed even in that terri
BILE moment, and, following up the vi
sion. l saw the face and the head with
out any covering except the wealth OF
black hair that clustered about the neck
and shoulders.
| The countenance Of hecate would
have appeared sweet under the circum'
stances, but that which was dimly re-
vea,ed to me in the partial reflection Of
the lamplight fairly held me breathless'
But / should have been fool to give
way to any emotion Of sentiment at such
time. and I intently watched the &C.
tion of her whose appearance to me wa
ss the coming of an angel.
The knees of Archie Hunter were &c
high with the feet resting on the rounds
of the uptilted chair that the band o.
the young woman was hidden for th'
minute or two during which 1t wal
busy. Then it was withdrawn with th'
same noiseless stealth, and as 1t pasoet
through the air toward the window
perceived that the pistol Of the sleeping