Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-19

III inc canopy VI ueuNen' was WI
upon the battlements.
1--WE might have known there WINS
some communication between the keep
and the battlement," said Sheppard
"You see the advantage. I've been
pacing this walk like n sentinel for the
last two hours"
"Cnn you get right roundy'
"I'll show you he returned and led
the way along that lofty roadway The
battcments naturally stretched across
the width of the castle, running from
wall to wall. The parapet stood some
five feet high and was broken with the
machicolations OF the design. There
was ample space, therefore, for twenty
men Mt arms to march abreast along
tho heights. Sheppard moved lightly,
his head just swinging clear of the par
apet and the black darkness contained
between the shadows of the rnmparts.
The lenden roof was incumbered with
rubbish. Presently Sheppard paused,
and there rose quickly before me out
Of the superintendent gloom the black
err mass of the drum towers. Feeling
his way, Sheppard hit upon an iron
ladder connecting with the heights
above. and presently we stood upon the
topmost pinnacle Of the castle and
peered from 1t into the night. The noe
turnal mists and blnckness of the val
Icy below were slowly shifting. The
trees gradually grew black, showing
against Il vast and gray gloom Yet
there was no light visible In those
seething changes of tRa elements. The
night still hung about us.
The southern drum tower looked
down upon deeper shadows, and ]
could not descry the wall below.
turned to my companion for an expla
nation and smiled at the confusion OF
my own brain when he answered:
That's the south, Ned. You know
the bnttlements are In ruins there"
or course they were, but ] was not to
be deferred from complete circuit OF
the walls by that small fact, and
CROPPED for the ladder.
"Be careful. Ned" said Sheppard
Better not. Wait till It's light"
Now, knew very well at the time
that he spo.e wisely and that l was
merely taking II rash hazard for no
better purpose than to display to my
self my own determination obsti-
macy, IL you will. But the feeling was
strong upon me, and so, picking my
steps down the ladder, paid him no
attention. Presently my foot, descend
ing, shot through empty air, and coin
cidently with that the iron bar to
which l was clinglng with my left
hand ceased abruptly. For moment
l had siclsly sensation In my stom
ach, and went quite cold. But, brac-
ing myself together, l kneeled upon
the lowermost step and launched my
body into space.
l have no intention, as say, of de-
Tending my foolhardiness, nor do
take any credit for my ultimate escape
from what was undoubtedly deadly
peril. My legs kicked aimlessly In the
air and found no rest. frightened my
hold upon the iron OF the ladder and
strov.a to pull myself up. But my
wrists had already weakened in that
tedious and unavailing oscillation in
space, and, to my horror. | realized
that could not get back. di
"Sheppard!' called family.
Ned! Ned!" came Sheppard's whis-
per from above, and l was vaguely
aware Of tiny spar:s of light shining
as it were in heaven. The glow lit up
the remnants of the iron ladder. and
below this could see as l hung tho
imminent brows Of the ruined wall
and the cleaning light Of water far
away. Yet this illumination proved
my salvation. The ruins We're over
run with masses of Irish ivy, MS have
said, and In the course of centuries this
strongly growing creeper had clam,
bered over and beyond the proper linl.
It's of decay ard clothed with great
twisted branches the wall of the drum
tower at one side Of me. Gasping from
my exertions, reached a hand toward
these leaves and. catching at n thick
stem like a cable, chung to 1t desper-
ately while dividing my weight be-
tween the two supports. My only anX.
iety was SIS to whether the ivy would
hold. It's attachment to the stones OF
the wall must be precarious, and yet
had to. trust it, and, posing an In
slant between the two, dropped slow.
~ upon the creeper. The friendly
branches held, and slipped carefully
down until stood upon the broken
stones of the ruined wall. High above
saw Sheppard light another match
and heard his voice calling to me, but
had no strength to reply. He flung
the light from him, and, descending IN
an arc, it passed before my eyes and
went out with fizzle below. leaned
over, and the grayness of the coming
dawn lay in the water thirty feet be
meath me. A fragment of stone, de-
tached by my movement, rumbled over
the margin and fell with great blob
into the moat There were twelve feet
Of water in the fosse. shuddered and
called back to Sheppard.
81 was afraid something had hap.
pened to you" said he. care you all
right?"
explained the position. "Wait
there and I'll join you from the other
side. You old fool, Ned!"
accepted the criticism meekly and
N Il