Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-12-24
By Prof. VIM. Henry Peck
Author Of the the Stone. Cutter
Of Lisbon" Etc.

certainly fall with me. and shall be
killed. I must take off the bricks from
the top and drop them back into the
chimney until I can safely step forth
upon the roof
This was n work of time, and he
heard the distant clocks striking IL
before he dared leave his dangerous
situation.
THANK heaven! I am safe so far
said Greene, as he sat upon the roof to
recover breath and to enjoy for brief
moment the cool, refreshing air Of
| night
More than two days said he, as he
gazed around, more than two days
have passed since I entered this house,
with my heart beating high with hope
and happiness. Through what perils
have I not passed since then! But
have no time to think now; | must act
And first to escape from this roof"
/ He then began to roam about the
steep and broad roof.
Il am on the roof Of the wing of the
house." said he, at length. There is
no house upon which l can jump from
this roof. This roof is at least twelve
ieet below the roof of the main house.
If / We're on the latter | think | could
enter the untenanted house beyond. |
must try to go up this wall TO the roof
above. But first let ME see if / can
see anything below"
He saw a light cleaning along the
raised borders of the skylight, which
was the only window of the crimson
chamber.
Greene had no suspicion that Henry
| Elgin was i'll the room below the sky
light, or perhaps he would have looked
| there sooner. He stole cautiously to
the edge of the skylight and peered
through the glass into the room below.
| AS the crimson chamber was always
! illumined at night by jet Of gas,
Greene had no difficulty in seeing what
was going on.
Great heaven" said he, "this is
Henry Elgins prison, and that must
be he on the bed, but how fearfully
emaciated! A mere skeleton! But
who is that Just ut the door? All, Mrs.
Harker, the wretch She seems threat
enng. / cannot hear what she says,
but she shakes her finger angrly. Oh,
| YOU wretch of a woman, you shall Suf-
| fer for this! Now-she leaves the
room-there. she has gone. l must let
| Elgin know I have got out of the
chimney"
Greene raped upon the glass and
Elgin looked mp instantly. An expires.
sion of joy flashed over Elgin's ema.
ciated features as he saw Greenc'S
face pressed close to the glass. More
| than a year had passed since ElGin
had seen Greene, and the latter's two
days of toll and suffering had greatly
altered him from the handsome.
| blithe-faced carpenter Elgin had
| known. Yet Elgin knew it must be
Greene tapping at the glass, and wish
| ing to communicate with him, but fear
! ing his voice could not reach him as
| we'll as that it might alarm Hammond
he used the dumb alphabet on his
fingers, hoping Greene could under
stand the silent language. Greene
did understand, and knew what Elgin
meant.
Haste! Save my child! They are
bringing her here drugged"'
Greene was bold and active and he
resolved upon n course to pursue on
| the instant.
AS gently as possible he broke pane
of glass, and after pausing a moment
to see if he made any alarm he said in
q low but distinct tone:
Can you rise from your bed?'
Elgin made n gesture of assent. For
| though Greene's voice might not be
heard without the room his would.
"Are you strong enough to pull your
bed Immediately under the skylight?"
said Greene.
Elgin rose with ease, for the occasion
inspired him with strength, and as his
| bed was on rollers he pushed it readily
where Greene desired.
! "If they remove the bed" said
! Greene II must run the risk of break
1 Ing a limb. But l find it will take me
an hour to escape from this roof. We
caaaa. st.saarTla inc time. 1t is not more
! than twenty-five feet from this sky
light to the floor, and your bed will
break my fall"
Elgin spoke with his fingers again;
you have no weapon. You will be
overpowered"
II have this heavy bolt" said Greene.
at has been my friend thus far, and
with 1t in my hand am ready to fight
a dozen counterfeit Hammonds, and as
many other rascals. Sit in that chair
and hope"
! Have you no weapons for me?" tel
egraphed Elgin.
wait" said Greene, leaving the sky
light.
He fastened to the demolished chin
ney, and using all his great strength,
wrenched off a prong of the lightning
rod, thus gaining an iron club a foot
and half long and half an inch thick,
and tapering to a sharp point.
He returned to the skylight and
dropped the weapon through the bro
ken pane. 1t fell upon Elglns bed
without noise, and Elgin hid it in his
loose gown by folding his arms across
his breast.
With the brave and active young