The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1912-07-18
let loose Of my feet. ORrsen; ] am

/ BoAuS " w 1Of Tue uGAk tVoeAss
He was too surprised for protest. but
released his grip. and ! swung free'
dangling from the gutter. heard MIN
Chamber up on the still and eaW Ms
head poked out through the opesins.
"Stay where you are" ordered SOFT
ly. land if l make 1t I'll LET you ont
through the door. Re careful: xome
fellow may take shot this way.
The distance did not exceed ten feet.
and moved along hand over hand
no.selessly. the supporting gutter not
yielding in the slightest to my weight
and my mind becoming more confident
as l advanced could see little. but
my dangiin: feet told me when hung
opposite the first window. Here seri-
Gus difficulty presented itself-the win
dow was closed. probably locked. Yet
I had anticipated this. reasoning that
the clasp would be the same AZ that
of the room In which we had been im-
prisoned. half circle catch between
the two sashes To reach 1t with my
| foot | would have to break pnne OF
glass. and it must be the right pane
1 felt for 1t carefully. located the prop
er spot and sent my shoe crashing
through the glass. musket doomed
from the black shadow OF the grape
arbor. the leaden messenger chuGrinG
into the wood just above my he.'d.
Two carbines barked from a windOi"
of the lower floor. their fame showing
like red cash in the night. l stuch
my leg through the shattered pane. felt
the clasp with my shoe ind pressed 1t
back. An instant later. with foot and
hand. I had forced down the sush and
1 swung my body iu through the open
ing.
1t was a ticklish job TO let 80 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
l finally dropped to the floor his mus
ket exploded. the bullet singing through
the open window. brrying itself In the
ceiling and showerins me with plas-
ter.
The noise Of crashing glass nnd my
fall to the floor 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. II the door of this room
was unlocked. and ! could surprise
her. the rest would be easily accom-
pllshed. crossed the room softly.
and tried the knob. which yielded.
Looking first toward the fireplace j
saw nothing. and 1t was moment or
two before ! perceived her. sitting on
n low stool. the cooked rarbine across
her knees, nt the head of the 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
women in her was equally apparent
the quick trembling of her shoulders.
the occasional uplifting of one hand
a. II she swept aside gathering tenrs.
could perceive one white cheek. and
the fluffy brown of her hair. although
the light was SO dim that she seemed
ment of indecision would have
given the world to 20 to her. to clasp
her in my arms and stand beside her
through right or wrong. She could
respect and admire n worthy enemy.
but she would despise n weaklins.
even II 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 vent to II faint cry OF startled
fear. had grasped the barrel of her
gun and held 1t safely.
You said. Miss Denslow. this was
war" l began sternly. "and noT il
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
IL am SORRY" stammered lame
ly. that ! must hold you prisoner.
but you have proved too dangerous
to be permitted to go free
How did you get here? Where
did you come from?" she questioned.
II came out through the window OF
/
of another. Some of your friends shot
at NE, but their craftsmanship was
poor. You must have 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 OF
| Dity Swput over mo
Don't be angry" l urged.
81 am not angry at you." and she
looked up at me. the tears visible Il
respect you more because you have not
| yielded. But-but have failed-failed
I utterly ! am hngry with myself hu-
inflated. misera ble.''
There was a noise behind. and
wheeled about quickly. throwing up
the carbne. O'Brien stood In the door
way through which l lad come. star