The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-11-21

| have TESTED a little, it was only in
the effort to give you courage; for I
haven't the slightest idea how we are
going to get out of this dismal hole"
We went on. We couldn't see half
a dozen feet in front of US. The gloom
beyond the dozen feet was Stygian
and menacing. And the great grim
shadows that crept behind US as we
proceeded! Once the girl stumbled
and fell against me.
What's the matter?" I asked, start
led
4 stepped on something that-that
moved! "-plaintivel
Possibly it was a potato; there's
a bin of them over there. Where the
deuce are we?"
IF you swear. I shall certainly
scream!" she warned.
But l can swear in the most ele-
CANT and approved fashion"
Il am not inclined to have you
demonstrate your talents"
aha! Here is the coal-bin. Per
haps the window may be open. If so,
we are saved. Will you hold the can
die for a moment?"
Have you ever witnessed a cat
footing it across the snow? If you
have, picture me initiating her. eau
tiously l took one step, then another;
and then that mountain of coal turned
| into a roaring treadmill. Ssssshi
Rrrrr! In a moment 1 was buried to
the knees and nearly suffocated. l
became angry. I would reach that
window
Hush! Hush! The noise, the
noise" whispered the girl, waving
the candle frantically.
But l was determined Again tried.
This time | slipped and fell on my
hands AS l strove to get up, the
cord on my gown became tangled
about my feet The girl choked;
whether with coal dust or with laugh
ter I could not say, as she still had
on her cambria mask.
Forgive me-" she said. And then
I knew it was not the coal dust.
"Tll forgive you, but 1 will not
promise to forget"
"Merciful heavens! you must
not try that again. Think of the
noise!"
WAS l making any noise?-rub-
bling the perspiration from my fore
head q had taken off my mask)
Noise? The trump of Judgment
Day will be feeble compared to it.
Surely some one has heard you.
| yHv1,,v - low %bo+ hoord On ron re III a
coal?"
A good idea. I made use of it at
once The window was Unattached,
but there was a heavy wire-screen
nailed to the stills outside. There
was no getting out that way. The
gods were evidently busy else
where.
Nothing doing" murmured. bit
discouraged.
And even If there was, you really
could not expect me to risk my
neck and dignity by climbing through
a window like that. Let us give
up the idea of windows, and seek
the cellar doors, those that give to
the grounds. 1 declare I shall leave
by no other exit"
1T was very kind of you to
let me make an ass of myself like
that. Why didn't you tell me be
forehand?"
Perhaps it's the angle of vision
again. l can see that we shall never
agree. Seriously, thought that il
you got out that way, you might find
the other exit for me- I am sorry
if my laughter annoyed you"
mot at all, not at all. But wouldn't
it be wise to save a little laughter
70 make merry with when we gel
out?"
l stepped out of the bin and re
heved her of the candle; and We
went on.
you did look funny" she said.
please don't!" l begged.
Soon we came to a bin of cab
bages. I peered in philosophically
Il might find a better head il
there than NINE" I suggested.
Now you are trying to be sarcas
tic" said the girl.
WS went Oh.
wait a moment" she cried
Here's a bin of nice apples"
Applesl Well, my word, sh'
was a cool one! I picked up one
polished it on my sleeve, and gave i
to her.
I'm hungry" she said, apologet
ically.
And plucky, too" 1 supplemented
! admiringly. Most women would b
in a weeping state by this time"
Perhaps l am waiting till it /
all over"
You had better take off your mask.
In fact felt positive that the sight O
her exquisite face would act like
tonic upon my nerves.
Il am doing very we'll with it on
can at least keep my face clean" Sh
~.