Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-22
THE MAN IN THE LOFT.


towards wooden shed capped by loft,
which his hunted eyes espied in an angle
of the farmyard. Not soul in sight.
With luck he might reach it in safety.
The door of the loft stood open, ladder
reared itself against the shed. He
climbed it nimbly, despite his bleeding
hands and bruised feet. welcoming the
| sweet scented gloom of the loft, half full
of fragrant hay, fresh from the fields.
He flung himself down gasping, then
| hid himself in thick bundle of hay in
the darkest corner. Surely they would
| not look for him here-even if his escape
had been found out so soon. He would
wait till the summer darkness set in,
| tnen he must push on to the coast. Only
within sight of the sea could he feel safe.
A ship would take him to another coun-
try, where he might hide securely.
Presently he breathed more freely
his heart ceased to throb with such yio-
| lent pain, his eyes closed, and the escaped
prisoner slept soundly.
He awoke suddenly, conscious of the
fhum of voices near him. Peering eau
tioously from out of his lair, he saw sit
ting Just inside the loft, with their backs
l IL
Its too hot to run any more!" the
girl was saying, with a soft little sigh;
81 wonder if children ever get really
tiredl"
Never" asserted the man. with a
| laugh. let them have a search for us.
1ney won't think of looking here for a
bit, anyway"
| The man hidden in the gloom behind
/ h. l.. r.l,A - L
understood, perhaps He shuddered ST.
passed between him and a woman--how
long ago? Long before disgrace banished
him from her side and hid him away out
of sight in a prison.
do you think they are still hunting
for us?" asked the girl, hurriedly, in the
little pause that followed. Eyes, l hear
them calling. l wonder if we ought to
go DOWN."
| an run down and see that they don't
get into mischief. if you'll wait here for
me. Win you, DaphneY"
| The next moment she was alone, and
the man well on his way to find the
children.
1t was in that moment that she turned
her charming head, and saw the man
|
hay. She went quickly towards him, and
said, 'Who are your And what are You
doing there?"
He could hide no longer-that was evil
| dent-so he came boldly out.
I'm hiding" said the man, shortly.
IF | can do that till nightfall. can get
away. Are you going TO give me upi"
| His speech was refined, his manner that
rha yNSf Via ha,r
face.
NO she said, at last 81 wouldn't do
| that. You-you've escaped from prison,
then?"
"Yes. I've been running and sinking
over the country since before daybreak.
Pm parched with thirst. | saw the pond
| there on my way. Heavens! What I'd
give for gallon of waterl"
Il can give you that, at any rate" said
the girl. Hide yourself for few min
utes"
She leaned out of the door and called
loudly, "Harrryl Harry!" and the man
who had but lately left her came hurry
ing back.
what's the matterf" he asked, laugh
ing. 1--WE run the chicks to earth. They
are all right"
do You think you could get me a
drink? I'm horribly thirsty. 4 big jug
of water, please, and a glass"
"Oh, yes; I'll be back in a minute"
His footsteps died away, and the man
hiding in the hay drew long breath of
relief He did not move from his place
of concealment, and the girl gave no sign
that she was conscious of his presence.
They both waited till the man came back
armed with a big jug of new milk, a
glass, and a large cake.
You may come for me when tea is
ready" said Daphne. Till then III stay
here"
His cheerful whistle died away into
silence. Daphne Ward picked up the Jug
and the big cake and went towards the
gloom behind her.
Perhaps this will be better than moth.
| ing" she said. kindly, and then turned
away. that he might drink and eat in
comfort without any watching eyes to
shame his ravenous hunger.
| You've given me fresh life" he said
1 Mt length Il don't know how to thank
! YOU"
oh, don't mind that" she said what
will yea do now?"
Wait till it's dark. then make the best
81 lily Way TO the sea. l might set away
to America and begin a new life out
| there. LIS my only chance, Rather than
gO back--Or be caught-Id die. You
don't know what life is like behind those
| gray walls where you have nothing but
your thoughts and silence to keep You
/ company.
What made you lose your freedom -
| she asked, abruptly.
My own folly and madness" he said.
"l'm not going to tell you what perhaps
| another man might ten you-that I'm
! innocent Of the crime for which they oava
me seven Years penal servitude. for Tn,
not. l forged my employers name. It's
\ common storytelling. gambling, spec.
| ulatlug on the stock eNchauSe. in the
hope Of making fortune at the EXPENSE
/ of another mans loss. There was a
woman ioved-Heaven only knows
where she Is now--She was poor. unkan.
/ ~, Waiting almost hopelesslv for the
1 tlOc when We might be married ANA 81