The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1912-07-20

bC was tOO oulpElSeu lOE pFOleSl. Dut
released his grip. and l swung free.
dangling from the gutter. ! heard him
Chamber up on the still and saw his
head poked out through the opening.
stay where you are" ! ordered soft
ly. "and IL | make II I'll let you mt
through the door. BE careful: some
fellow may take a shot this way"
The distance did not exceed ten feet.
and | moved along hand over hand
noiselessly. the supporting gutter not
yielding in the slightest to my weight
and NY mind becoming more confident
as | advanced. ! could see little. but
my dangling feet told me when ! hung
opposite the first window. Here a seri-
Gus difficulty presented itself-the win
dow vas closed. probably locked. Yet
I had anticipated this. reasoning that
the clasp would be the same as that
of the room in which we had been i'm
~prisoned. a half circle catch between
the two sashes. To reach 1t with my
foot l would have to break q pane of
glass. and IL must be the right pane.
felt for it carefully. located the prop
er spot and sent my shoe crashing
through the glass. A musket doomed
from the black shadow of the grape
arbor, the leaden messenger chugping
into the wood just above my he'd.
Two carbines barked from a window
of the lower floor. their flame showing
like a red cash in the night. | stucA
my leg through the shattered pane. felt
the clasp with my shoe and pressed 1t
back. An instant later. with foot and
hand. I had forced down the sash and
swung my body In through the open
ing.
1t was q ticklish job to let go my
grip on the gutter. but my left hand
found purchase on the frame of the
window. and ! squirmed In inch by
inch. expecting every instant a second
shot from the fellow in the arbor. AS
| finally dropped to the floor his mus
ket exploded. the bullet singing through
the open window. burying itself in the
ceiling and showering me with plas-
ter.
The noise of crashing glass ana my
fall TO the floor would hardly alarm
the girl. ever II she remained on guard
in the ball, as there had been so much
of similar disturbance during the past
%half-hour. If the door of this
was unlocked. and | could surprise
her, the rest would be easily accom-
plished. crossed the room softly.
and tried the knob. which yielded.
Looking first toward the fireplace !
saw nothing, and ii was n moment or
two before ! perceived her, sitting on
n low stool, the cooked carbine across
her knees. ut the head of tue stairs.
She was sufficiently in earnest. no
doubt: indeed. the intenseness of her
attitude. the grip of her fingers on
the weapon. her very posture. exhib-
tied determination. And yet the
ome in her was equally apparent
the quick trembling of her shoulders.
the occasional uplifting of one hand
as If she swept aside gathering tears.
| could perceive one white cheek. and
the fluffy brown of her hair. although
the light was so dim that she seemed
little more than a shadow. In that mo-
ment of INDIGESTION | would have
given the world to go 10 her. to clasp
her in my arms and stand beside her
through right or wrong. Ia could
respect and admire a worthy enemy.
but she would despise a weaklinS.
even If his lack of manhood came
through love of her. Besides, she
was doing this for Donald. She had
said this was war, and | would bear
my part in 1t.
Even as she leaped to her feet. CIV
ing rem to a faint cry of startled
fear. | had grasped the barrel Of her
gun and held II safely.
You said. Miss Denslow. this was
war" ! began sternly. land noT it
is my turn Give me the carbine.'
She released her grasp of it. her eyes
on my face. They were not angry.
but soft from unshed tears.
I'll am sorry" | stammered lame
ly. that | must hold you prisoner.
but you have proved too dangerous
&c be permitted TO go free
How did you get here? Where
did you come from?' she questioned.
II came out through the window of
one room and IN through b window
of another. Some of your friends shot
at me, but their craftsmanship was
poor. You must have a pretty low
opinion OF Yankees to suppose one
would lie idle very long under lock and
key"
She sank back upon the chair. her
face buried in her hands. A wave or
pity swept over NE.
Don't be angry" | urged.
II am not angry at you.' M she
looked up at me. the tears visible Il
respect you more because you have not
yielded. But-but | have failed-failed
utterly. l am angry with myself. hui
inflated. miserable"
There was n noise behind. and
wheeled about quickly. throwing up