Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-01-04
CHAPTER x.-(Contiuued.l

end of twenty minutes had plated a
rope. weak TO be sure, but long enough
20 reach the ground with plenty to spare.
Then, having bent my bodkin to the form
OF n hook, | tied it to the end of the
cord, weighted it with a crown from my
pocket. and clambered up to the window.
was going to angle for the hangman's
rope.
A dozen times pulled my hook across
the coil before it hitched, and then n
full three-scorC of times the rope slipped
away before | had raised it a dozen
yards. My elbow was raw, almost with
leaning on the SILL and l began to lose
heart and head, when, TO my delight, the
bodkin caught and held. 1t had fastened
on kink IN the rope not far f:om the
end. l began TO pull up hand ever hand,
trembling all the while like 2 leaf.
At last | caught it. and, slipping back
into the room, pulled it after me yard
upon yard My heart went loud and
fast. There was nothing to ,Gsten it TO
out an iron staple in the door: that meant
dosing the width Of my cell. some six
feet
This. however, must be risked and
made the end fast, lowered the other out
of the window again and, climbing to a
sitting posture IN the window sill, thrust
out my legs over the guI.
Thankful was | that darkness had
fallen before this and hidden the giddy
depths below me. I gripped the rope
and pushed myself inlh by inch through
the window. and ont ovel the ledge. For
a moment / dangled. Then. wreath ng
any legs round the rope. | looSed my left
hand and caught with il again some six
Inches lower. And so down | went.
Minute followed minute and left ne
still descending, six inches at a time. aad
booking neither above nor below, but al
ways at the gray wall that seemed slid
ling up in front Of me- The first dizzi-
mess was over, but horrible aching OF
the arms had taken the place of ii Twas
growing intolerable when suddenly my
legs. that sought to close round the rope,
found space only. l had come to the
end
looked down. A yard below my feet
the beam OF the gallows CLEANED palely
out of the darkness. Here was my
ehance. 1 let my hands slip down the
gast foot or so of rope, hung for a mo
ment, then dropped for the beam.
Ny feet missed it, as l intended they
cA0GiLs DHk 4 HUNG D&Lu arms VuA EsAN
caught it, bringing myself up with jerk.
while YET | hung clawing, 1 heard a
gootstep coming through the gateway.
Here was fix With all speed and 81
lence | drew myself up to the beam.
found a hold with one knee upon it, got
astride and lay down at length, fatten-
6ng my body down against the timber.
THE footsteps drew nearer and passed
AaVr. -. H.
officer, for, as he passed, he called out:
Sergeant Downs Sergeant Sowns,"
A voice from the guariroom in the bar
btcan answered him through the dark
ness.
Why is not the watch setg
SIN a minute, sir; it wants a minute to
six"
Il thought the colonel ordered it at
half past dyeF'
In the silence that followed the barbi-
can clock began to strike. and half a
dozen troopers tdmbled out from the
guardroom Tie officer returned to the
anner ward as they dispersed to their
posts; an soon there was silence again.
save for the tramp Of sentry crossing
and recrossing The pavement below me.
All this while | lay hattened along
the beam, scarce daring to breathe But
at length. wien the man had passed De-
dow for the sixth time, l found heart to
wigge myself toward the doorway over
which the ga''ows protruded. BY slow
degrees, and pausing whenever the fel-
low drew near, | crept close up to the
wall, then. waiting the proper moment,
cast my legs over, dangled for a second
ar two. swinging myself toward the sill.
dung myself of and, touching the ledge
with one toe. pitched forward IN the
room.
The effect of this was to give me
sound crack as I struck the flooring.
which lay about a foot below the level
of the sill / picked myself up and
iisten'd. Outside the regular ~amp or
she sentry prov'd be had not heard me.
In the room where | stood ihe flooring
was uneven 10 the foot and seatter'd
with small pieces OF masonry. Twas one
OF the many chambers in the castle that
had dropp'd into disrepair. Cropping my
way with both hands, and barking my
Ehins on the loose stones. | found a low
vapIted passage shat led me into sec
ond chamber empty as the first. To my
delight, the door 20 this was ajar with a
glfmmer of light slautjng throue5 the
crack. | made straight toward it, aud
pu!ld the door softly, 1t opend, and
shov'd lantern dimly burning and the
staircase OF the keep winding past ME,
up into darkness.
NV chance was. ~ course. 10 descend
which did on tiptoe. hearing no sound
The stairs twisted down and down and
ended hy a stout door with another lamp
shining above IT, After listening a mo-
ment | decided TO be- bold, and lifted the
latch. 4 faint cry saluted me. stood
face to face with the jailer's daughter
The room was small one. well lii.
and lind about the walls with cups
Twas as | guess d, a mess ro nm for the
soldiers. and the girl had been securing
one OF the pewter mugs when nay en-
trance startled her. She stood UP. white
as If painted. and gasp'd;
"Quick-quick, Down here behind the
counter for your life.'
There was scarce time to drop on Iny
knees before a couple Of troopers louug'd
in. Tne girl BUSTED about to serve them.
while the pair lean'd their elbows on
the counter. and in this easy attitude be
gan 70 chat
a shrewd night"
AYE, very freezing FROST Lucky
that soldering is not all sentry work.
or for one I'D enSue my natural trade
O plumbing But lets he cheerful, for
the voice O the turtle is heard + the
land"
"Hey2"
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