The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-06-27

hold upon the lead gutter. My rec
objection of the roof was THAT it had
rather sharp pitch. sufficiently SO to
make scaling it. even if could draw
my body up. an impossibility. But
this gutter was built in solid and
would safely sustain my weight. |
swung out. testing II ga ltiOusly, eX-
pecting every instant to be fired at
from below. Nothing happened. how
ever. and | determined TO risk the
venture.
Let loose of my feet. O'Brien: am
going 10 try for the next ROOM"
He was too surprised for protest. but
released his grip. and | 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
~. and if make il I'll let you out
through the door Pc careful: some
fellow may take n shot This way
The distance did not exceed ten feet.
and | moved along hand over hand
noiseIessly. the supporting gutter not
yielding in the slightest to my weight
and my mind becoming more confident
as | advanced | could see little, but
my dangling feet told me when | hung
opposite the first window. Here seri-
Gus difficulty presented itSelf-the win
dow was closed. probably locked. Yet
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 it with my
foot | would have to break pane of
glass, and il must be the right pane.
/ felt for it carefully. located the prop
err spot and sent my shoe crashing
from the black shadow Of the grape
arbor, the leaden messenger chugging
into the wood just above my head.
Two carbineS barked from window
of the lower floor. their fame showing
like a red cash in the night. ! stuck
my leg through the shattered pane. felt
the clasp with my shoe and pressed 1t
back. An instant later. with foot and
hand. / had forced down the sash and
swung my body in through the open
ing.
1t was a 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 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 sharp responsive crack OF the
,arbines proved the troopers below
alert. while yell of surprise and pain
made me hopeful that one of their
shots had reached the mark.
The noise of crashing glass and my
fall to the Soor would hardly alarm
the girl. even If she remained on guard
In the hall. as there had been so much
Of similar disturbance during the past
half-hour. If the door of this room
was unlocked. and ! could surprise
her. the rest would be easily accom-
,lished. crossed the room softly.
md tried the knob. which yielded.
Looking first toward the fireplace |
saw nothing. and it was a moment or
wo before l perceived her. sitting on
low stool, the cooked carbine across
Ter knees, at the head of the stairs.
instantly comprehended her pur-
,ose.
Confident that both O'Brien and !
we're securely Gagged and that Don
Id would lead his men into the house
" way of the secret passage. she
vas waiting TO defend the stairs. to
revent any search of the second
tory.