The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-16

and life as he could possibly get them 1t took all his will to continue the light. He was cut off from that window now. but there was another close by and he must get 1t open also. Then he could really rest--and brsathe. A few feet more and everything would be all right 'fhe air from the open window reached him in little puffs and gave him cour- age. Cheer up--Ikey,' he muttered. you ain't--dead yst---an' you ain't-- goin' to be. Takes mor'n--a gas fac- tory--to knock--us out. Geei Ant that greatr' He had reached the oth- CT window and raised it. Once more he felt ;he exhilaration of returning strength now mingled with the satis- faction of a decd accomplished
 But what had he done? He did not yet know that the two on the bed were alive. How long had the gas been es- caring? How long had they been un- der it's infiucnce7 The street lamp threw a little light into the room and he could see that the child's face was covered. but that of the woman was It's background. She WIS young wo- man--"pretty." Red Ike thought. as
 he looked at her from his position in the shadow of the window.
 Lust about as old IS Mag" he said
 softly to himself. He wanted to go over and touch them to see If they were dead. but he was yet terribly weak and terrfbly--afraid.
 T wish we wus out O this, Ikey,' he
 muttered. Its a bad deal and we'll git the worst of 1t if we loaf ,arcun' here. We can't do anything more. can
 we? We ain't no p1oomin doctor. The
 copsli be along this way pretty soon an have us up for murder if they ketch us! Nobody'd believe us, Ikey.
 We don't have no standin' in court, as them cured lawyers say. Wed better slide But"
 He could not satisfy himself with
 this reasoning. Perhaps he could do
 more. At any rate he must see. The
 open windows below and above had created a current which was rapidly clearing the room, although the gas was no doubt still escaping somewhere downstairs. His chest was torn with racking pains and his heart was beat ing like the hoofs of the leading horse coming down the home stretch. He leaned over the bed and touched the
 face of the woman. It was cold. He could detect no movement of the lungs or heart. She was apparently dead. He uncovered the face of the child and
 rejoiced to find some signs of life. The covering had protected her. He raised and lowered the woman's arms as he TeH1emperGu 10 nave seen 0OctOF WOFk with a man who had been dragged from
 the surf. After moment gentle sigh came from her closed lips. He stopped and listened An aspiration so soft that only an ear accustomed to
 noticing the faintest sound could have been heard, but 1t was enough. Had he not stood in the darkness many a night and strained his ear to hear the peculiar note which he knew indicated deep slumber?
 You're all right. my lady," he said. with a grin of satisfaction. "Mebby
 Red Ike ain't no doctor, but he's got
 'em skinned on this job. Heilol The kids coming 'ronn', too. Time for you to mosey, Ikey. You don't want to be here when they wake up. We aint been introduced. you know. and 1t
 might be embarrassin'. We'll just close up that gas factory below. if we can | find 1t; then we'll sneak home"
 He gave parting look at the woman and child. assured himself again that | they were still breathing and then ! glided softly from the room. Ten min utes later he crept out through the same window by which he had entered. and, keeping well within the shadow.
 made his way down the alley to the street and beyond.