Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-11
APRIL II, 1909.

hesitating apparently as to his next
step, then began to mount the stairs
very softly. Brenda's door stood open;
he looked in and CLEAN of satisfac-
ton lighted up his countenance. The
little heap of gold, glistening in the
summer sunshine, caught his eye. In
a moment 1t was lodged in his pockets
Further Investigations were interrupt
ed by a sound of ill-omen for the fugt-
tive-the firing of gun In the dis
lance, telling of active pursuit. He
retreated downstairs and fled from the
house. Fortified in body, equipped with
clothing and money, he forgot his ia
tigue, his hurts, the lameness caused
by his injured foot, and started at
rapid pace to gain the road to the
south, in which direction lay his hope
of liberty.
Brenda, meanwhile, fumed and fret
ted. She went to the window again
and again, gazing at the key lying full
in view and hopeessly out Of her reach.
Her eyes measured the distance to the
ground, which in the old-fashioned
house was not great, and she leaned
out of the window to note what facili-
ties for descent offered themselves.
Minna's room was in the front of the
house, but not above the porch, from
which descent would have been COM
paratively easy. Her choice lay be-
tween an inactivity that CALLED her
excessively and letting herself down by
some means or other from the window
to the ground. Her mind was soon
made UP.
She took a sheet from her sisters
bed and began to cut it into narrow
lengths, while Minna stood by and
watched her, silent and aloof. At last
she said, disdainfully:.
DO you imagine that will hold you?"
Yes; for so short fall 1t will be
strong enough"
"Oh, Brenda, don't! You'll break your
leg, and we shall be left till night at
that mans mercy"
My dear child. shall do nothing of
the kind If you had not been so silly
this would not be necessary; but am
not going to sit here all day. If you
could see the poor man you would not
be afraid of him any longer, Minna."
IL tell you, have seen him."
some-looking creature ever saw-and
so dirty and disreputable. Oh, Brenda,
stay with me, 1 beg of you!"
81 can't, Minna; I really can't stay
here all day doing nothing. If that
poor fellow wakes"
You think OF no one but him!" cried
Minna. my wishes, my fears, my
loneliness don't trouble you one bit"
"They are so purely imaginary, so
unnecessary" replied Brenda, calmly.
Then, having knotted and twisted her
linen ropes to her satisfaction, she went
to the window. pushed heavy table in
front of 1t and fastened her cords to 1t.
The outer ledge of the window was wide
and projecting, so that her ropes, as she
had counted on their doing, hung away
from the wall of the house. She climbed
out upon the ledge, sat for a moment
with her legs dangling, and having
taken a firm hold of her cords, threw a
farewell glance at her sister. AS she
looked outwards again she saw a small
body of men coming, and the sight lent
speed to her movements. Men from the
prison, she felt sure they were, track
ing their quarry to his shelter, and If
they found no one below to oppose their
entrance the poor fellow downstairs
would be at their mercy. In a few sec
onds she alighted safely on the ground
and, waiting only to call to her sister
to reassure her, she ran to the door. It
was locked. She had fastened 1t to keep
intruders out! She rushed around to the
back of the house, hoping against hope
that she might find some way of en-
trance To her establishment the back
door stood wide open. This discovery
gave her a fright. She looked into the
parlor; the runaway was sleeping just
as she had left him, breathing as stead
lily as II he were in his own home, safe
from the dread of pursuit and imprison-
ment.
Poor fellow! I'll save you, trust
me-" she murmured; and then she heard
voices outside, and realized that her
sister was speaking from the window
to some one below.
Where is hep" when did he come?''
Have you got him safe?" The ques-
tons were asked sharply and her heart
hardened a CtC eI,.