The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-01-12


thought that troubled me most was
that Margaret's life was in imminent
danger.
If l could only see Margaret, we
might together find some means to
thwart our enemy. Remembering that
she was confined in a room with trap
leading through the ceiling, it occurred
to me that il l could reach the roof
l might gain access to her. Going to
the window, l threw up the sash and
made a hasty survey of my position.
l was three stories above ground, a
wooden cornice over my head, while
at my right was two-story extension.
l resolved to make the attempt. Clos
ing the sash, | turned my attention to
what there might be in the room to
assist me.
The only implement that could pos
sibly be of use was an iron poker; but
soon perceived that a poker was not
to be despised, for it stood beside a
CRATE containing coal and kindling
ready to light, and l at once connected
the two In a possible benefit. 1t oc-
CURED to me to make "A hook of the
poker, with which to gain n hold on
the cornice, and a rope OF the bed
clothes, by which to climb to the roof.
Cutting a blanket into strips, | made
a rope strong enough to bear my
weight, and, lighting the fire, inserted
the poker at the middle, softened 1t
and bent it into a hook. Fortunately,
at the other end was a ring which to
tie my rope.
Soon after TAPS" l prepared to put
my plan into execution. The house was
surrounded by four sentries, and from
nv window / could see and be seen
by two of them as they approached the
angle at which their beats joined. My
attempt must be made when they were
both out of sight, but they were UNI
sociable fellows, and much to my cha
grin paced so that one was always in
view of my window. / conceived q
plan for bringing them together, and
looked about my room for some OBJ ect
10 assist me in carrying it out. Seeing
a china image on the mantel, | seized
il and threw 1t with so good an aim
that 1t lighted near the angle. One
of the sentries heard ii strike behind
him, but, after glancing back, contin-
ued his beat. When he returned he
saw the image, picked it up, examined
IL, wondered, stared about him, and
called TO his colleague to ask where it
had come from. They at once arranged
to meet and talk it over. Leaving the
angle, they passed out of view at the
same time.
/ made several attempts TO catch my
hook on the cornice, having time only
to make one attempt while the SEN
tries were out of view. At the third
throw the hook caught, and at the
sentries' next disappearance grasped
my rope, gave a sharp test pull, then,
dangling, swayed myself back and
forth till got one foot over the coping
Of the extension, and in a twinkling
was lying fiat on the roof, holding fast
all the while TO my rope. Then fol-
lowed several attempts to dislodge my
hook, but at last had il in my hands
and soon after secured directly above
me. In another moment ! stood on
the roof of the main building.
The waning moon had risen, but the
character of the roof, sloping to the
center, protected me from being seen
by anyone in the yard as 1 walked to
the trap. l was in more doubt how to
proceed from this point than since l
had begun the execution of my plan.
In the first place, it is serious matter
for young man to rap for entrance
at a lady's chamber after she has sup
| posedly gone to bed, But when that
lady is held a prisoner with a sentry
at her door, and the would-be visitor