The Ocala evening star., 1911-06-09

rear udu DE just turn or Two, anu
once on that shed a short leap would
land me on the ground, after which
could easily trust 10 the storm to con-
ceal my flight across the open golf
links. II was worth trying, at least.
Anything was better than being found
in the house with my murdered be-
trothed
had no reason to think that l was
being sought or that my presence In
this building was even suspected It
might well 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 gleam Of a 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 I reached the window
by which l hoped to escape and quick.
ly raised it. A torrent of snow swept
in, covering my face and breast In
a moment, It 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. 1 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 a trapped animal
reclosed The window and cast about
for safe corner where l could lie
concealed until l learned what had
brought these men here and how
much | really had to fear from their
presence.
| had but little time in which to
choose. The door below had just Civ
en way. and n 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. l had
rather have heard drunken cries or a
burst of wild hilarity than these stern
and purposeful whispers. Men Of res
olution could have but one errand here.
My doom was closing round me. l
could only put off 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 l stood. l remembered
the spot we'll. 1t was at the top of
d 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 unobstructed 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
had taken off in the lower hall were
yet in my hand l had caught them
up after replacing the cushions or
Adelaide's body. Even to my owl
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 floor.
/ More quickly than l expected the
/ total darkness in which | lay brighten
! ed under an advancing lantern. and
heard the steps of two men coming
! down the hall. 1t was q steady II not
rapid approach, and 1 was quite pre-
| pared for their presence when they
| finally reached the doorway opposite
and stopped to look in at what mus'
have appeared to them a vast ant
empty space When l lifted my head
again it was to catch a glimpse of theil
side faces as they turned to look else
where for what they were plainly II
/ search of An oath, muffled but stern
which was the first word above {
whisper that l had heard issue from
! their lips, told me that they had reach
ed the room and had come upon th'
horror which lay there.
Maddened by my own intolera BILE po
sition, drawn by a power l felt 1t I'm
| possible to resist, l crept to my fee
| anu tOOk my staggering way uo"A 1d'
half dozen steps of the gallery an(
thence along by the left hand wal
toward the farther doorway ant
through il to where these men stoot
weighing the chances In which N!
| life and honor were involved ant
those of one other Of whom I daret
not think.
1t was DARK in the ballroom, and 1
was only little less so in the cor
ridor All the light was in that room
But | still slid along the wall like
thief, with eyes set and ears agap
| for any chance word which nigh
reach me- Suddenly l heard one. l
was this, uttere'
J !. J ! ]. ! : ]. ! !: ] ! = !.
with a decision
nR M- which had tn
W. ~ strange effect o
k-I W. lifting my hea
H(N~ II" and making
.M8 \ man of me again
W'A That settles II
SbS Ia He will find
~/" hard TO escap
IN after this
He! I had bee
HIN n dreading to hea
lgA.AA III she. Yet why