Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-12-09

SAUAA0s A0uad Alu&ubA0 - AANt1U Il
up. and. clinging to the edge OF the
hole. brought my eyes to q level with |
the rent in the paper. The vista was
not wide one and dare not enlarge
the space, yet saw sufficient to yield |
me full knowledge OF the party and |
The floor was crowded. |
the men almost without exception In |
Federal uniform.
The couples whirled past, circling |
the room. / watched the faces ea-
gerly, but they we're all strange. No
doubt some OF those young women
had known as girls. but they had
grown out of my recollection. None
among the officers present, SO far as
could tell, had I ever come In con-
tact with-ah! yes! there was Whit
lock sitting disconsolately alone below
the judges bench. l chung te my
perch determining to assure myself,
but my eyes encountered no other
familiar countenance. OF course No.
reen would not attend, but there must
be some special cause to account for
Raymond's absence. He was the sort
to. whom such an occasion as this
would naturally appeal
Satisfied by my scrutiny. explored
the opposite wall In vain for any SINH.
lar opening As I remembered there
were offices there, where in days Of
peace the county officers held sway.
and the floor above was an unfur
nished attic. extending the full length
of the building. having low, unceiled
roof. In the old days It had been
used for storage purposes. and there
was a narrow stairway leading down
into the sheriff's office. Ay! and there
was continuance there once In which
they used to burn waste papers. re-
membered certain house cleaning in
which / assisted. and was assigned to
the job OF stirring the papers fire.
quently with an iron poker. thought
1t fun, and the chimney funnel was
big one. Possibly Ii was there still,
but could succeed In getting up that
far? The light shining through the
broken paper permitted faint glimpse
of my immediate surroundings, yet re-
vealed little to encourage me. The
chimney was barely large enough to
admit the upward passage Of my body.
and was black mystery. However.
the irregularity of the stones promised
finger and foot hold. II offered a
chance. hope--and I could ask no
more.
was climbing before the music
| ceased, clinging desperately to every
slight projection, and bracing myself
against the walls. Progress was slow,
and occasionally painful; the con.
tracted space gave me feeling OF suf.
location, and / dislodged enough SCOT
so was compelled to struggle con.
stantly to refrain from coughing. My
across mouth and nostrils.
While the music remained silent,
rested, fearful lest my struggles would
be overheard, taking such meagel
comfort as / could. The first blare
of the horns started me off once more
careless in the midst OF SO much noise
as to whether | ratified the loosened
plaster. or even dislodged an Ill
secured stone. But at the best the
passage was made by inches. and
took more than one desperate chance
of slipping; twice l clung breathles.
as the music ceased, but the secorf
time | felt convinced l had attained
to the level of the upper floor.
With the next burst of melody from
below, now somewhat mellowed b,
distance and the intervening walls,
made another attempt to ascend. bu
foot or two when my right hant
plunged into wide opening. Clingin,
as best / could to a precarious foot
ing, ran my arm deeper in until
came In contact with tin covering
which fell rather noisily to the floor
| paused, startled at the sound, but n,
CLEAN of light came through the open
ing, and / instantly realized that tn
attic was unoccupied. The rattle o
the tin would. In all probability, ere
ate no alarm because of the din be
low.
| AuC" hO" CAoStly was, VII
only immediate problem being m
ability to squeeze through that nal
row space. The old-time burner ha
evidently been removed. / wriggle
my way in head first. My knee
were doubled UP in the chimney. an
my feet found solid purchase agains
the stones. felt as though the yer
skin was being peeled of me. but
shot forward, my head and shoulder
emerging into the Open. Heavens
what a relief! drew a long breath
dangling over the floor, unable t
reach any support; then kicked an
struggled until fell out headlong. an
lay too exhausted even to move.
, 1t was SO still | could plainly hea
the swift beating of my heart, and 8
dark that not an object was discern
a ible. The music below had ceased
, and, as / was now on the opposit
, side Of the building. the sound of cor
. versation and movement did not reac
, me. For long moment / lay Their
1 endeavoriag to recall the surround
! ings, but / dare not waste much tim