Putnam patriot., 1909-10-08
THE PUTNAM PATRIOT October 1909
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Arc you quite sure-is it safer" she called. SAuddering at the thought of the pe-i'eus descent ef nearly Sto feet sheer through the darkness.
 its safer than stepp.as here. Please % inside"
 She dnily cempneheHdea bis mean izsz. He wanted ta save her from see iIsg his fail in the event that the worst should come Co pass. Scarcely know ing what she did. she moved over into the shadow near the walls and waited breathlessly. all the time wondering why some one did not come from the chateau to lend assistance.
 At last that portion of the rope which lay in the garden began to jerk and writhe vigorously. She knew then that he was coming down hand over hand through that long. dangerous stretch of darkness The cliff reared itself sheer to the height of $50 feet directly behind the chateau. At the summit of this great wall shelving ledge projected over the hanging gar den. A rope dangling from this ledge would fall into the garden not far from the edge nearest the cliff. The summit of the cliff could be gained only by trayersing the mountain slope from the other side. It was impossible to scale il from the floor of the valley which 1t bounded.
 The rope was undoubtedly attached to the trunk of sturdy tree at the brow of the cliff.
 She could lock no longer. IL seemed hours since he started from the top. Every heart beat brought him nearer to safety, but would he hold out? Any instant might bring him crashing to her feet-dead. after all that he may have lived through during that awful night.
 At last she heard his heavy panting grooming almost-the creaking and straining of the rope the scraplng of his hands and body She opened her eyes and saw the bulky, swaying shadow not twenty feet above the garden. Slowly 1t drew nearer the grass covered floor, foot by foot. straining. struggling. gasping in the final supreme effort. and then with sudden rush the black mass collapsed. the taut rope sprung loose. the end switching and leaping violently.
 Genevra rushed frantieally across the garden, half fearful. half joyous. As she came up the mass seemed to divide itself into two parts. One sank Imply to the ground, the other stood erect for second and then dropped beside the prostrate, gasping figure.
 Chase had come down the rope with another human being elinging 10 his body.
 Genevra fell to her knees beside the man who had accomplished this mfr aele She grasped his hands. warm and sticky with blood. She tried 10 lift his head from the ground. moan ing with pity all the time. attering words of encouragement in his ear
 Many minutes passed. Al last Chase gave over gasping and began to breathe regularly. but heavily. The strain had been tremendous. Only superhuman strength and will had carried him through the ordeal. He groaned with pain as the two beside him lifted him to a sitting posture.
 Tell Seiim to come ahead" he gasped. his bloody hand at hts throat We're all right.'
 Then, for the first time. Gcneyra peered fin the darkness at the figure beside her-a slight. graceful woman in oriental garb. The woman turned and lifted her face to the heights from which she had descended. In shrili eager voice she called out something in language strange te the princess. A faint shout came from on high. and once more the rope began to writhe-
 The princess passed her hand over her eyes, bewildered.. The face of the woman in the light. half shaded. half illumined. was gloriousiy beautiful young. dark, brilliant,
 "Oh" she exclaimed, starting to her feet, look of understanding coming Into her eyes. This was one of the Persians, Ee had saved her. A feel. ing of revulsion swept over her. com batting the first natural. womanly pride in the deed of a brave man.
 Chase struggled weakly to his feet He saw the tense. strained figure be- fore him and, putting out his hand. said:
 She is Selim's wife. I am stronger than he. sol brought her down." Then. looking upward anxiously. he shouted. .
 Be careful. Selim! It's easy If you take your time to it."