The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-04-11
CHAPTER Ill

| AN EIOPEMENT THAT SUCCEEDED
| The clumsy hands of the great wood.
en- clock in Joe Westbrooks kitchen in.
dicated few minutes before midnight
when Polly crept stealthily into the
room By the light of a lantern she
carried 1t could be seen that shawl
was thrown over her shoulders and that
her head was covered with bonnet
"Almost midnight she exclaimed
in whisper as she cast frightened
glance up at the cloel. II am late and
have no time to spare But how my
heart beats The thing seemed easy in
the planning. But now l doubt if
have courage to do it
Here she gave terrified start, for she
thought she heard her father calling her.
But it was only the mournful wailing
of an owl outside Waiting until she
had recovered from her terror, she set
the lantern down on a table and tip
toed to the door opposite the hearth,
which opened into her father bedcham-
Der. As she placed her hand upon the
knob she hesitated trembling at the
thoughts that occurred to her
"What if my father should awakel'
she reflected. ''What if he should dis
cover me in the act Of stealing his keysl
Oh. it is too dreadful to think of In
deed had better stop just where am. -
A shudder passed through her body,
and she was on the point of returning
to her room, when the thought that her
lover was expecting her inspired her
with renewed courage.
mo. | will not turn back" she NUT
tered. as she slowly opened the door.
my dear Edwards freedom. nay, his
very life depends upon my bravery, and,
no matter what happens will not fail
him.
Having come to this resolution she
cautiously crept into the apartment 1t
was utterly dark. She paused moment
to maize sure that her father was sleep
ing and. hearing his heavy breathing.
began to creep forward again.
She was aware that he always kept
the keys to the cells in his coat pt 1ket.
But where had he hung his coat?
She began careful search of the
room to find out and at last discovered
it hanging from the bedpost at his head.
She was now so near him that she could
distinguish the vague outlines of his
recumbent form in the darkness. and
again her heart beat fast with appre-
hension
snow or neverl" she exclaimed in
wardly,
Stretching forth her hand with cat
like stealthiness, she began to search
the pockets one by one. 1t was not I'M
til she had CROPPED in several Of them
that she finally found the keys. and
then an unfortunate thing happened.
As she was in the act of drawing them
forth they slipped from her fingers and
fell to the floor with a sharp ringing
sound
who's theref''
1t was the voice Of her father He
had raised himself up on an elbow and
was apparently listening intently Pol
ly drew herself back from the hedpost
and remained as silent and motionless
as a statue She was literally frozen
with terror.
A few moments of agonizing sus-
Dense followed, and then her father
turned over on his side and quickly re-
apsed into slumber.
Waiting until she was sure he was
'sleep, she stopped down and recovered
he keys, Then she glided like ghost
rom the room. On regaining the kitch-
N she picked up the lantern and hur-
led away to the cell of her lover, who J
vas anxiously awaiting her at the I
grief hole.
"What makes you SO late, Polly?'
e whispered.
'Oh please don't ask me, she re-
lied in voice half stifled with emo
ion II have had terrible fright, but
cannot tell yon about it now. Come,
1t us leave this dreadful place before
ye are discovered y
While speaking she turned the key
! the lock and swung the cell door
pen. Robin could scarcely restrain q
ry CT delight when he found himself
nee more at liberty He followed Polly
trough the corridor to tho Jail door
nd from thence across the yard to her
lther's stable Close to this building {
ocd stately horse chestnut tree,
en- which large branch had recently !
sen broken On his way to the stable
oblin's eye CHANGED to fall upon the I
,,h b
Polly" he said laughingly, cit :,
ould be hardly fair for US to take your $
Tiers horse without offering him !
me compensation. SO intend making =
fair exchange with him. 4
While speaking he shouldered the dis. 5;
vered branch and carried it into the p
Hiding. ,.
"What do you intend doing with u
at broken bough, Edward?" asked
e girl in tones of wonder
"You will see presently, he replied. o.
tn difficulty suppressng his mirth, "a
While I'm Harvesting the horse, Polly Ns
: to find me pen and some paper III
Il your Va
The girl departed to do his bidding, u
d, although she was gone but few |C
nutes, she found everything ready X
their departure on her return. Her IS
er took the writing materials she M
brought him and, making q desk le
a barrel head, proceeded to write NJ
ter to the jailer. When it was fin n
ed. he fastened it to the chestnut =
Ugh, tied the letter in the stall from W
ich he had just taken the horse and VI,
koned Polly to his side do