The Detroit times., 1912-06-18


streamed from his unshuttered IAN
tern and began TO waver rapidly over
the base OF the wall.
The Ivy leaves were densely thick
over the depression In which | stood.
but | very much doubted II could
remain concealed, and thought that az
best ! could only fight for II, and get
away perhaps with my face unknown
The lantern light was picking out
vivid patches OF Ivy leaves, sweeping
from side 10 side along the length OF
the building, and with every sweep
mounting a little higher. Suddenly the
Waterman started forward, striking
cut with his stick. which moved halI
an armful OF leaves from the wall;
and into the vivid circle OF the Ian
terms light leaped great black cat
with blazing eyes. very devil OF a
cat that, yet, must surely have been
Heaven sent.
What is it?" called the voice from
the -oot
The man below me laughed and
shut his lantern slide.
Cookies cat on a still hunt, he
replied, but his eyes looked out at
me as il some OF them really had
gone loony"
Careful" said the man on the roof.
The birds were still circling around
me in the darkness, lighting and n.y.
ing on restlessly again, scolding. chat
tering and screaming as sparrows
will. and. as | knew that | must dis
turb still more OF them, | climbed
quickly, under cover OF the present
disturbance. In minute more OF
climbing ! came 10 window, open
save for the bars before II, and q
green drawn curtain inside which
scarcely stirred in the soft May air.
Very cautiously I stretched my hand
out and pushed the shade aside the
| fraction of an inch, until could see
| the room within. II was bare as
room in a hospital; a dejectediook-
| ing young man sat on the edge OF the
he'd, reading a tattered paper novel,
and he was all alone. | released the
curtain and edged along sideways TO
| the next lighted window. In this room
middle-aged woman paced the floor
nervously, and, after a glance, | went
along still farther, peering in window
after window, as | came TO them; and
with each glimpse into the barren
brightness, my anger rose.
IL seemed scarcely possible that
such a place could exist. that in
| kindly world such heartless cruelty
could be planned and countenanced
| by man; for, as Nancy had written
me, here were men, women and even
| children, each one locked in and
alone, and each, as far as | was able
| to Judge, absolutely sane. There
were many faces, TO be sure, where
| Eorrow had written indelible lines;
faces where any last CLEAN OF hope
seemed 10 have flickered and gone
out, leaving the mind drearily blank.
a sterile field, ploughed and made
ready for the poison seeds OF mad
ness. | was tempted more than once
TO tear the very bars from the win
dow and to fight my way in TO what
ever devil might be in charge, that
he might lead mo the more quickly
10 Nancy Once | had found her
once | had her safe and beyond this
present danger. made up my
mind that these other unfortu-
mates who suffered here with her.
who had some of them probably
been here for years, should be SET
free, that the whole abomination
should be opened up with the food.
ing light OF state authority But now
cared only TO find Nancy herself. 10
find her and take her away.
Once, as paused before a window.
was nearly discovered; for an old
gentleman raised the shade OF the
room with jerk. that he might look
out restlessly into the night. II was
only his poor eyeslght and the unac-
customed darkness that gave me time
to dodge beyond his range OF vision.
had come to the last window OF all.
and had raised the shade perfunctor-
lily before climbing to the floor above,
when l found Nancy.
(Contlnuea.)