The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-30

why I cannot say. but I feel sure we
shall yet see happier days"
The tears welled up in her soft, dark
eyes. n with a swift instructive
movement I caught her in my arms and
showered kisses on her pale, beautiful
face. For a second she held me as
tightly, then firmly drew herself away
and went with a swift step to her
share of the task. When the last f1ut-
ter of her dress had vanished, l turned
to my linen roll and began my prepara-
ions with the easiest heart In the
world. / was bound to get out in some
fashion. After the promise of such
happiness. was the thread Of my fate
to be shipped by such yindictive rogues
as these? No. indeed! to use a favorite
phrase OF their own-No, indeed!
I gave the roll a kick and a tug and
1t flew across the room, leaving me q
half dozen yards free to work with. I
o k round for a place to f11 this n
and for the moment saw nothing which
could afford sufficient hold, and then
the great center beam OF the ceiling
caught my eye. 1t ran across the room
from wall to wall supporting smaller
transverse beams. on which was leid
the planking which formed the floor of
the garnet above. The ceiling was un-
plastered, n between the main beam
and the boards there was a gap Of our
inches, he thickness Of the smaller
rafters.
I whipped out my sword, ran it
through the END of the linen n poked
the latter through one Of these OPEN
ings. | withdrew the point and thrust
through more and more the stiff, heavy
cloth working admirably until the end
hung out over the beam within reach
OF my hand. l drew 1t down and
formed a slip knot round the main line
OF the web, then ran the knot tight, took
a good grip of the stuff gathered in my
hands and swung myself to and fro
like a pendulum, my feet clear of the
floor. The linen was. of course, thread.
very strong, and bore the strain easily.
50 far, so good" thought I, and APP
preached the window. There eemed
no one about, and / opened n side Of
the wide easement. l put out my head
inch by inch and saw that the coast
was clear. On this side of the house
was neither door nor outbuilding; the
smoth turf ran clean to the
foot of the wall.
That eyes would be on me as soon as
l moved l knew very well. but as these
would be in the heads OF the Red Men
OF the Dusk. Ieuan's scouts posted on
the heights above, l had nothing to
fear In that direction / lifted the big
roll Of liner in my arms and returned
to the window.
I bent out INT listened and looked
again and again. All was quiet, and 1
dropped the roll. Down 1t went, turn
Ing and turning and striking he
ground at last with a slight thud. So
much stuff was in it that the diameter
was but little reduced when it reached
the turf and 1t was heavy enough to
lie like a plummet, keeping the length
which lay unrolled against the wall
straight and steady.
drew NV halt TIGHTER and fhron npe
leg over the window. I crumpled the
width Of linen between my hands, and
In a second more would haye thrown
over my leg n begun to slide down,
when a faint sound of voices ave me
pause. I turned my head and saw. to
my utter disnay, three men come
round the corner Of the house near to
me. Their heads were close together
and they were talking earnestly, but
in low tones, one i~nterrupting the 9TH
er, and al gesticulating tieTcely, as
these people do when really excited.
They were walking away from the
house. and in the earnestness of their
debate looked neither to the one side
nor the other.
I watched them without moving q
muscle. Let them go but far enough
to give me q chance to slide down n
gain a little law. l would trust my
heels-until Whitesock could get to me
Tor the rest.
Had their feet been moved as fast
as my heart had been safe beyond a
doubt, but in their eager talk they
Jagged slower and slower. and, at a
dozen yards from the house corner,
stopped utterly. their backs turned to
me. And there sat I, astride the sill,
my mind In a tangle of indecision.
Twice and thrice I measured the dis
lance with my eye, having more than
half an motivation, 10 ola !. =, Il i, :, =, L
But the faintest sound would now
catch their ears, for only one was
speaking, n he softly, and the rattle
of feet or scabbard against the wall
would betray me at once.
Two wore swords, The third carried a
rude halberd, n the idea of sliding
down to be received On the points of
these, without the possibility of de-
Tense, held me fast where + was. Oh,
If they would but move a score Of
yards further, that I might be sure Of
being on M feet with my face to them
when / reached the ground! But no.
There they stood and stood, every Sec
ond seeming an age, as l feared that
one or the other would turn his head
and cry out in surprise on the broad
white stripe shining on the gloomy
wall. I would have gently drawn the
web up again. hoping for their speedy
departure, but the roll would unwind
I knew not how far, and its humping
about would attract notice. Suddenly
the thing was settled. And though it
went against me, the strain had been
such that I hailed the turn of affairs
with a sigh of relief.
A comrade out of view called upon
one of the takers by name. The hall
berd-bearer turned his head, shouted
his wonder at the sight Of the linen
and of me on the sill, and justified my
unwillingness to trust my chances OF
| sliding down by leap1ng to the foot of
the wall and presenting his weapon
The second Ia Joined him with sword
drawn and the third ran like a hare
round the corner.
Continued Next Week.
Once Was Enough.