The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-05-29
CHAPTER VllI.
IN Which ! Meet a Few Surnrlsea

AAuMent l was unable 10 recall Wher,
was, or on what errand / had come
Then memory returned In a Hood. anc
/ sprang from the bed and peerec
about me.
A dim light struggled in from the
daTkened window. but no cause fol
apprehension could be seen. was the
only creature that breathed the air OF
that bleak and dingy room.
drew aside the curtain. and threw
up the window. II opened merely ON
a light-well. and the blank walls be.
You'd gave back the CHEEKY reflection
OF a patch OF sunshine that fell at an
angle from above.
The fresher air that crept in from
the window cleared my mind. a dash
OF water refreshed my body and | was
ready once more to face whatever
might befall.
looked at my watch. IL was s
O'Clock. and | had slept four hours in
this place. Truly / had been impru-
lent after my adventure below. but
had been right in trusting Mother
Borton. Then ] began to realize that
was outrageously hungry. and | re-
membered that | should be at the
Office by 8 TO receive the commands
OF Doddridge Knapp, should he choose
10 send them.
! threw back the bolt, but when !
tried To swing the door open it re-
sisted my efforts. The key had been
missing when ! closed it, but a sliding
bolt had fastened il securely. Now |
saw that the door was locked.
Here was a strange p~erdicament. /
had heard nothing Of the noise OF the
key before / lost myself in slumber.
Mother Borton must have turned il as
an additional precaution as | slept.
But how was / to get out? | hesitated
10 make a noise that could attract at.
t%ention. Il might bring some one less
kindly disposed than my hostess of the
night. But there was no other way.
l was trapped. and must take the risk
of summoning assistance.
raped on the panel and listened.
No sound rewarded me. / raped
again more vigorously, but only ST.
lence followed. The house might
have been the grave for all the signs
OF life il gave back.
There VAS something ominous about
il. To be locked. thus, in a dark room
of this house in which | had already
been attacked. was enough to shake
my spirit and resolution for the mo-
ment. What lay without the door. my
apprehension asked me. Was it part
Of the plot to get the secret il was
supposed ] held? Had Mother Borton
been murdered and the house seized?
or had Mother Borton played me
false and was / now a prisoner 10 my
party for my enforced imposture.
as one who knew too much TO be left
at large and too little TO be OF use?
on q second and calmer thought il
was evidently folly 10 bring my jailers
about my ears. If jailers there were.
I abandoned my half-formed plan OF
breaking down the door. and turned TO
the window and the light-well. An
window faced on the same
space. not five feet away. II it were
but opened | might swing myself over
and through il. bit it was closed. and
a curtain hid the unknown possibili
ties and dangers OF the interior. A
dozen feet above was the roof. with no
projection or fOothold By which il
be reached. Below, the light
well ended in a timed floor. about -four
feet from the window sill.
swung myself down. and with two
steps was trying the other window. 1t
unlocked. | raised the sash eau.
iously. but its creaking protest
to my excited ears to be loud
enough 10 wake any but the dead.
and listened after each squeak
# the frame. There was no sign OF
movement.
Then ] pushed aside the curtain
'autiously. and looked within. The
Dom appeared absolutely bare. Gain
ng confidence at the sight. / threw
curtain farther back. and with a
climed in, revolver in hand.
The room was. as | had thought. :
are and deserted. There was a musty -.
nell about IL. as though il had not i,
zen opened for a long time. and dust ,
nd desolation lay heavy upon 1t. :
There was. however. nothing here /,
D lingeT for. and | FASTENED to try the :
oor. IL was locked. / stopped to ex- /
mine the fastening. It was Of the :
heapest k.ld. attached TO door and q
asement by small screws. With a .
God wrench IL gave way. and ! found
lyself In a dark side-hall between L.
rooms. Three steps brought me !,
} the main hall. and ! recognized 1t 4,
'r The same through which | had felt :
" way in the darkness Of the night :
| took my steps cautiously down the q
airs. following the way that led to q
le side entrance. The saloon and h
'staurane room | was anxious to 7
'ade. for there would doubtless be a 4
irkeeper and several %loiterers about. c
could not be avoided. however. AS q
neared the bottom Of the stairs y
.w that a door led from the hallway s
the saloon. and hat Il was open. b
ITO BE CONTINUED r
Smoking Soldiers. :
The experience Of Lord Wolseley h
the British army has been such p