The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-06-25
"Herr Britton has them workin

side the gates-ach, that terrible IN
vention of his!" groaned old Conrad.
"My poor sons are faint with fatigue,
mein herr. You should see them per
spire-and hear them pant for breath. !"
"It is like the blowing of the forge
bellows" cried his wife. "My poor
little boys!"
"Fetch them at once, Conrad" said
I, eudgelling my brain for means to
surmount present difficulty, and but
very slightly interested in Britton S
noble contraption.
The brothers soon appeared and, as if
to give the lie to their fond parents,
puffed complacently at their pipes and
yawned as if but recently aroused from
a nap. Their sleeves were rolled up and
l marvelled at the size Of their arms.
els Britton deadi" cried, suddenly
cold with the fear that they had mu-
tinted against this brusque English
overload.
They smiled. "He is waiting to be
pulled up again, SIR" said Max. "We
left him at the bottom when you sent
for us. 1t is for us to obey"
i Of course, everything had to wait
while my obedient vassals went forth
and reeled the discomforted Britton to
the top Of the steep. He sputtered con-
siderably until he saw me laughing at
him. Instantly he was valet once
more, no longer grabbed genius.
J I had thought of plan, only to dis
card it on measuring with my eye the
; distance from the ground to the lowest
window in the east wing, second floor
back. Even by standing on the shoul-
J |ders Of Rudolph, who was six feet five,
II would still find myself at least ten
feet short of the window ledge. Happily
Ia new idea struck me almost at once.
4 In jiffy, half dozen carpenters
were at work constructing a substantial
ladder out of scantlings, while / stood
over them in serene command Of the
|situation.
The Schmicks segregated themselves
and looked on, regarding the window
with sly, furtive glances in which there
was a distinct note of uneasiness.
I At last the ladder was complete.
Resolutely I mounted to the top and
lpeered through the sashless window. 1t
was quite black and repelling beyond.
Instructing Pritton and the two broth.
ers to follow me in turn, I climbered
over the wide stone sill and lowered
myself gingerly to the floor.
I will not take up the time or the
space to relate my experiences on this
. first fruitless visit to the east wing
of my abiding place. Suffice to say, We
Igot as far as the top Of the stairs in
the vast middle corridor after STUN
bling through series Of dim, damp
rooms, and then found our way effectu
u ally blocked by stout door which
was not only locked and bolted, but
bore a most startling admorition te
would-be trespassers.
Pinned to one Of the panels there
was dainty bit Of white note-paper
with these satiric words written across
its surface in a bold, feminine hand
"Please keep out This is private
property"
Most property owners no doubt woult
have been incensed by this calm def
n ance on the part of squatter, eithe
8. male or female, but not !. The yer.
Iimpudence of the usnrper appealed II
], line. What could be more delicious thai
n her serene courage in dispossessing me
with the stroke Of pen, of at leas
81 two thirds of my domicile, and wha
h, more exciting than the thought Of wag
t. ing war against her in the effort to re
re gain possession Of itf Really it wa
re quite glorious! Here was happy, en-
le chanting bit Of feudalism that stirre
TO my romantic soul to its very depths.
n was being def:ed by woman-a
st amazonl Even my gr1sping imagina
ton could not have asked for more sub
ne stantial returns than this To put he
lg to rout! To storm the castle! To max
re her captive and chuck her into m
y dungeon! Splendid!
no We returned to the courtyard an
. held counsel Of war. put all of tn
y schmicks on the grill, but they stul