Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-25


offered, make his way out of the build
ing? Then he figured that by this
time the police would be acquainted
with the manner of his escape, and
having invested the building on all
sides below, would proceed to investi-
gate the inmates one by one, as they
had done on many a similar occasion.
No, he was not secure In this precious
hotel at all, and the only safety for
him lay in getting away az far as pos
sible from the neighborhood.
Going to h end OF the hall where
the window stood open, he peered
! down on the street. 1t was too high
to risk a leap, and, even If such a
thing could be accomplished In safe
ty, nc would only fall into the hands of
the men who were lying in walt for
him.
"Ah. If my work were only done, I'd
go back with them gladly he NUT
tered, as he turned away with a sigh.
but there is more that l have to do,
and until then the police and /, l hope,
Will remain strangers"
Near the window through which he
had been peering was an open door,
and without knowing exactly why, he
entered. The room was empty, but
along one side ran q shelf, on which
were ranged various rusty candlesticks
containing pieces of candle, evidently
for the use OF the guests"
job helped himself to the largest
piece Of the candle he could find and
appropriated some OF the matches.
May need EN-" he muttered.
This enterprise may carry me into
many dark places"
AS ne came out Of this room, he
thought he heard the sound of steps
below and the echoes of muffied voices.
"They must have got on my trail"
he muttered. We'll, the only thing to
do is to try and reach the roof; perhaps
IT may communicate with some other
building. IF not-well, I shall be
caught"
AS he approached the stair again the
sound of the voices below became loud
err, and, from the fragments of con-
%versation that drifted up to him, h
judged that the police were making an
examination Of the rooms on the lower
floor.
1T will take 'em some time to do
that" was the thought that was run
ming through his mind, "and in the
meantime who knows but l may be
able to show them q clean pair of
heels"
He had reached the stairs again, and,
cautiously, that he might not awake
the sleepers, assembled them slowly.
Whoever 1t was investigating the
lower rooms, he did not take any pre-
caution to muffle his voice, and frag-
ments Of what was said satisfied job
that the police were in the building.
He had now reached the upper floor,
which, from the silence that prevailed,
he judged to be u~noccupied. There was
a small iron ladder leading to the roof,
and, without a moments hesitation, ne
climbed this, and, opening the trap,
closed it behind him on the roof.
1t was only through this trap that
they could possibly find him, so he
thought if he could weight down the
trap, they would have no easy task in
reaching him. At the same time, If
he found no way to escape from the
roof, his enemies had only to wait, and
he must eventually fall into their
hands.
He closed the trap carefully, n see
ing a pile OF old lumber nea at hand,
by degrees brought the boards over IN
his strong arms, and piled them on top
When he found that there was nothing
else of a weighty nature that he could
pile over the door, he wiped his fore
head of its perspiration and sat dowT
on the pile Of boards to consider his
situation.
Looked at it In any light, his position
seemed to be desperate, for the place
was guarded below, and the house was
full Of policemen. He rose and walked
to the further end of the roof, and ther
saw below him a low building that
looked as If it were a factory OF some
sort. Then he wandered to the front
of the building, and, looking down
thought he could see a policeman
walking back and forth, and, beyond
others. SO he returned to the contem.
plation of the little factory. If he
could only reach that roof, 1t would no
be hard to get to the street. But Ii lay
far below him, and to jump would be
impossible. Just then, as he was walk,
ing about, feeling very uneasy, III
tripped over a rope fastened to one OF
the chimneys, and which at some time
must have been employed in the worl
of painting the building.
1t was only a short piece. but he tool
It up tenderly, undid the knots anC
her found that 1t was still of too short
a length to be of any service to him
Rope IN hand, he drew near the brinl
of the roof, and peered down into the
depths. The roof of the factory, OF
whatever it was, lay far below, but HI
saw a small projection Jutting our
from the building on which he was
standing, about half way down. All
if the rope had only been double it;
lCllB LlACh q NiIoh6AN ONSullGh "
him whereby he might make his littlC
rope do double service.
Fastening 1T to a hook where 6
lightning roc had formerly been, he
threw the loose end over the wall
where it dangled in space Under the
| knot he had tied about the hook he
| placed a candle and lit it. His inten.
ton was that by the time he hac
reached the lower projecting ledge, the
\ oooIla mould hnNya burned tic Ht., 4
| through the rope, It would drop into
| his hands and then he would be able &c
use 1t again to reach the roof of the
factory. Having arranged this, Jot
| scrambled over the edge Of the parapet
| and, climbing to the rope, launched
himself into space. He knew that II
| was possible that the candle might
burn the rope through before he
reached the ridge of safety, but II was
necessary that he should take the risk
In his swinging descent he could not
help but look upward at the flarine
candle, the progress of which was &c
decide his fate, for life or death. Ar
old rope like that must consume rap
idly. Would it ever last until he
reached the ledge?
But his movements had been sc
precipitate that he finally swung
over on the ledge and rested
IiOic' peIoIe the IopS HIlaiiy SWEEP W
with a trail of fire, the one end OF
which he still held. AT the same time
he heard a rumbling noise above his
head which showed hat the trap door
a been forced open, and that the
police must now be upon the roof.
They must Don see the candle
which In that calm and placid night
was probably still burning, and they
would know where to look for the mar
who was attempting to escape.
The ledge to which Job clung was
before a great iron door probably used
to admit goods into the establishment
He found a hook to which he could
fasten the end of his rope, sadly
charred by fire, and again launched
| himself into pace.
| TT aaamad RI hin, fhot a. 80. o,,s