The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-01-31

IN the house with my murdered be-
trOthed
had no reason 10 think that was
being sought or that my presence In
this building was even suspected. IL
might well be that the police were
even ignornnt Of the tragedy awaiting
them across the threshold OF the door
they seemed intent on battering down.
The CLEAN OF n 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 n spring reached the window
by which I hoped to escape and quick
" raised II. A torrent Of snow swept
In, covering my face and breast in
moment IL did something more
II 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 10 fee by the rear fields
while such witness to my presence
remained In full view In front. With
the sensation OF trapped animal
reclosed the window and cast about
for safe corner where | 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 10
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; 1t 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.
could only put off the fatal moment.
But II was better to do this than 20
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. | 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 il 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. had caught them
up after replacing the cushions on
Adelaide's body. Even to my own |
ears | made no perceptiblc /
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 a steady If not |
rapid approach. and was quite pre-
pared for their presence when they |
finally reached the doorway opposite
and stopped 10 look in at what must |
have appeared TO them a vast and /
empty space. When l lifted my head |
again IL 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. muflled but stern.
which was the first word above a
that l had heard issue from
heir lips. told me that they had reach
I'd the room and had come upon the
horror which lay there.
Maddened by my own intolerable po-
;itlon. drawn by power i felt it i'm
possible to resist. crept TO my feet
md took my staggering way down the
half dozen steps of the gallery and
hence along by the left hand wall
oward the farther doorway and
through II to where these men stood
weighing the chances in which my
life and honor were involved and
hose OF one other OF whom / dared
Tot think.
1t was dark In the ballroom, and 1t
vas only a little less so in the cor
idor. All the light was in that room.
But 1 still slid along the wall like a
hief. with eyes set and ears agape
or any chance word which might
each me. Suddenly ] heard one. 1t
was this, uttered
!. !. !. !. ]. j |. !. !. !. !.
with a decision
VIM M'H> which had the
Et9 - strange effect OF
lE~1 >g~YX lifting my head
Eifywxs E~ and making
.M& a N man OF me again:
,W'A 1SAoRA "That settles IL.
\bSA He viii find it
LNF hard TO escape
mi after this"
IY ' Ne! had been
HA NJ dreading TO hear
lWkllhA Al she Yet why? !
NXIVN NxT1.A oo..o