Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1912-03-15
By ANNA
KATHARINE
GREEN
Copyright. 1910.
By Anna Katharine Rohifs
(Continuel.J

With a spring reached the window
by which 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
it cleared my brain. and I remembered
my poor horse standing in this blind
ing gale under cover Of the snow
packed pines. Every one knew my,
horse. l 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 I
reclosed the window and cast about
for a safe corner where I could lie
concealed until I 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. I did not
like the tone Of their voices; it was
too low and steady to suit me. I had
rather have heard drunken cries or
burst Of wild hihrity than these stern
and purposeful whispers. Men Of res.
olution could have but one errand here.
My doom was closing round me. I
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 / stood. I remembered
the spot well. It was at the top Of
q little staircase leading to the must
clans gallery. A balustrade guarded
this gallery, supported by a 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 l was then lurking. and
toward this I now made my way with
all the precaution suggested by my
desperate situation. No man ever NOV.
ed more lightly. The shoes which I
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 l made no perceptible
sound. reached the balcony and had
stretched myself out at full length be-
hind the boarding before the men b.
low had left the lower door.
More quickly than l expected the
total darkness In which I 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 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 l 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 9
whisper that had heard issue from
their 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-
sition, drawn by q power felt It i'm
possible to resist, crept to my feet
and took my staggering way down the
half dozen steps Of the gallery and
thence along by the left hand wall
toward the farther doorway and
through It to where these men stood
weighing the chances In which my
life and honor were involved and
those of one other Of whom dared
not think.
It was dark in the ballroom, and It
was only little less 30 in the cor
ridor. All the light was In that room.
But l still slid along the wall like
thief. with eyes set and ears agape
for any chance word which might
reach me. Suddenly heard one. It
was this, uttered