Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-03-30

you an old tweed suit, which will suit
your purpose much better. And there
is a cloth cap in the bundle, with some
bread. Have you any money!"
was touched by this proof OF
thoughtfulness and good will, more
than by the substantial help which
had, i'll manner, forced from him;
and l thanked the doctor warmly, as
surfing him ut the same time that was
well supplied with Oubles. He re-
turned the grasp of the hand which I
gave him, and left the room as quietly
as he had entered it.
A night-lamp was burning in q cor
ner of the room. This 1 blew out, and
my next act was to open the window.
The sentry was below, faithfully pac-
ing to and fro. He glanced up at the
noise made by my raising the sash.
closed it Immediately, and throwing
myself down in Il chair, for a few sec
onds gave way to despair. seemed
to be hemmed in on every side, with
out the least loopllole for escape.
had wild thoughts Of rushing out
and giving the sentry at the door a
blow that would stun him and prevent
his giving the alarnl-of taking him
into my confidence, Or making up some
story that would account for my wish
ing to so out at that hour without an
escort. 1t was all nonsense. Nothing
of the kind could be done. or even at
tempted. The only plan that occurred
to me that was at all feasible was to
wait until the early morning, and then
dress in the naval uniform had taken
off the night before and go boldly past
the sentry. saying I wished to take a
walk in the park before breakfast. In
that way might be able to get clear
of the house: but how was l to leave
the park without being seen in broad
daylight: And. of course, if l We're
seen, the fact that the Car had left
the park unattended would be immedi-
ately reported. would be followed at
once. and the uniform would certainly
betray me. No: it would not do.
Then it occurred to me that l might
find some wardrobe or cupboard IN
which could hide. and on the alarm
being raised. l might escape in the con-
fusion. 1t was. indeed. a forlorn hope;
but anything seemed better than stay
ing quietly where | was. like a rat in
trap. So l got up from my chair,
dressed myself in the clothes Petrov-
ski had brought, lit a candle and began
to examine the room.
Almost Immediately noticed a door.
which l. had not seen before, on ac
count OF the panels matching the pan
cling in the walls. 1t was locked, but
l could not help thinking that in this
direction might lie my salvation. Was
it not possible that the key of the bed
room would fit this lock. also?
l softly took the key from the other
door and tried it. To my delight it
opened the second door without any
beyond, leaving the candle behind me,
would never do to allow light to be
seen moving about in room that was
supposed to be unoccupied.
a faint light came into the room
from two tall windows ON my right.
and by this l knew that it was lighted
by the terrace on which the sentry
was now pacing. In other words. it
WAS quite as impracticable to escape
from one of these windows as it would
be from one of the windows in the bed
room itself. 1 had already been in a
small dressing room on the other side
of the bed room. and knew that moth
ing could be hoped for in that direc-
ton, for the door opened upon the cor
ridor, within a few feet Of the spot
where the other sentry was standing.
Again my heart sank: but as l was
leaving this room. which seemed to be
furnished as a sitting room, it occurred
to me that it must now be very near
the end Of the building in that direc-
ton, for the villa was not large, and
here We're three rooms in a straight
line; 1 must now be facing the gable.
1t was scarcely likely that sentry
would be placed on that side of the
house. There might be communica
ton between the room l was now in
and some other room facing from the
principal front.
l searched along the wall for q sec
ond door in vain; but l found some
thing that was nearly as good-a small
window. shaded by a heavy curtain, ST.
that | had not seen it until had been
close to it. at right asgles to the tall
windows in the principal front of the
villa. | had found what wanted-a
window that was not overlooked by
the sentry on the terrace.
There was no reason now to delay
moment. I went quickly into the
bed room, saw that my money was
safe in my pocket, blew out the light.
took the rope in my hand, and went
back to the room 1 had discovered.
taking care to close the door behind
me.
CTo BE Continucd1