New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-26

An 0l&Im u4O tS0CueO Oe0OQO0EIeIUS
and al hope Of escape on my part
was at an end. Yet. because 1t such
crises instinct rises superior TO rea-'
con, ! blew out the candle and softly
made my way into the hall. had
remembered the window opening over
shed at the head Of the kitchen
staircase could reach It from this
rear hall By just q Turn or two. and
once on that shed dsShort leap would
land me on the grou6d. after which I
could easily trust to the storm to con-
ceal my Tight across the open golf
links It was worth trying, ut least.
Anything was better than being found
In the house with my murdered b.
trothed.
I had no reason to think that was
being sought or that my presence in
this building was even suspected. It
might we'll be that the police were
even ignorant of the tragedy awaiting
them across the threshold Of the door
they seemed intent on battering down.
The CLEAN Of candle burning in this
closed up house or even the tale told
by the rising smoke may have drawn
them from the road to investigate.
With spring reached the window
by which hoped to escape and quick
~ raised it. A torrent Of snow swept
in, covering my face and breast in
moment. 1t did something more
1t cleared my brain, and remembered
my poor horse standing in this blind
ing gale under cover of the snow
packed pines. Every one knew my
horse. could commit no greater
folly than to fee by the rear fields
while such a witness to my presence
remained in full view in front. With
the sensation of trapped animal ]
reclosed the window and cast about
for a safe corner where could lie
concealed until learned what had
brought these men here and how
much l really had to fear from their
presence.
l had but little time in which to
choose. The door below had just CIV
en- way. and party of at least three
men were already stamping their feet
free from snow in the hall. ! did not
like the tone Of their voices; it was
too low and steady to suit me. had
rather have heard drunken cries or q
burst Of wild hilarity than these stern
and purposeful whispers. Men OF res
olution could have but one errand here.
Ny doom was closing round me. /
could only put of the fatal moment.
But it was better to do this than to
plunge headlong into the unknown fate
awaiting me.
knew Of possible place of conceal
ment. 1t was in the ballroom not far
from where I stood. | remembered
the spot WELL 1t was at the top OF
little staircase leading to the musi-
clans gallery. A balustrade guarded
this gallery, supported by boarding
wide enough to hide a man lying be-
hind it at his full length. 1t would
offer me the double advantage OF con-
cealment and an unrestricted view OF
what went on in the hall through the
main doorway opening directly oppo-
site. | could reach this ballroom and
Its terminal gallery without going
around to this door. "A smaller one
communicated directly with the corri-
dor in which was then lurking, and
toward this now made my way with
all the precaution suggested by my
desperate situation. No man ever NOV
ed more lightly. The shoes which 1
had taken of in the lower hall were
yet in my hand. had caught them
up after replacing the cushions on
Adelaide's body. Even to my own
straining ears made no perceptible
sound. reached the balcony and had
stretched myself out at full length be-
hind the boarding before the men be-
low had left the lower 6oor.
More quickly than expected the
total darkness in which lay brighten
ed under an advancing lantern, and l
heard the steps Of two men coming
down the hall. It was steady If not
rapid approach, and was quite pre-
pared for their presence when they
finally reached the doorway opposite
and stopped to look in at what must
have appeared to them vast and
empty space. When lifted my head
again it was to catch glimpse Of their
side faces as they turned to look else
where for what they were plainly in
search OF. An oath, muffled but stern.
which was the first word above q
whisper that l had heard issue from
their lips, told me that they had reach
ed the room and had come upon the
horror which lay there.
iSG-g2 IT
fro BE Continued