The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-07-27

snaDs. Z sossA ssseAaAs Q nfiSs ason0
~. asA. eiiasiag - ~ sA0s - ~
heis. brought ~ e1ss - . lsvel IN
the reat N the 1aDs. Ths vSs4o Vos
not . vide one aaA ] dare not ssaasor
the space. yet ] sav ss0eisst - yiald
ns fall knovledss q ths party saA
Its occasion TAe 1ess was crowded.
the nea almost without sseeDtiss n
Federal uniform.
The couples Uhiried past. eireliag
the room ] watched tho faces -,
gerry. but they we're sll strange No
doubt some Of thoss young women !
had known - girls. but they hsd
grown out Of my recollection. Nsae
among the olncers present. 20 far -
] could tell. had ! ever come u con.
tact vith-ah! yes! there was whit
lock sitting discons0lately alone bslov
the judges beach ! clsns 70 ny
perch determining to assure myself.
but my eyes ene0untered DO other
familiar countenancs. OF courss No
reen would not attend. but there must
b. some special cause 70 account for
RaymOnd's absence. He was The sort
to whom such an occasion ~ this
would naturally appeal.
Satisfied BY my scrutiny. ! explored
the opposite wall IN vain for any sini
lar opening. A. remembered there
were of6ces there. where In days Of
peace the county oaacers held sway.
and the 6oor above vas an unfuP
nished attic. extending the full length
OF the building. having . low. vnesilsd
roof. In the old days II had been
used for storage purposes. and there
vas . narrow stairway leading down
into the sheri6's once. Ay! and there
was coutrivance there once II witch
they used to burn waste papers. ~
membered . certain house cleaning in
which assisted. and was assisns1 70
the jcs Of stirring the papers fre-
auently with an iron poker. thought
It fun. and the chimney funnel was
. big one. Possibly Il was there stu,
but could succeed in ssttiag up that
far? The light shining through the
broken paper permitted faint glimpse
Of my immediate surroundings. yet ~
vealsd little to encourage ne. The
chimney was barely large enough to
admit the upward passage Of my body.
and was . black mystery. However.
the irresuIarity Of the stones promised
finger and foot hold. II offered Q
chaacs. . hope-anA I could ask 70
moro.
I was climbing before the music
ceased. clinsing desperately to every
slight projection. and bracing myself
against the walls. Progress was slow.
and occasionally painful: the cea.
tracted space gave ne . feeling Of ssf.
location. and I dislodsed enough SCOT
% l was compelled to struggle con.
stantly to refrain from coughing. Ny
only relief was to bind handksrchisf
across mouth and nostrils.
While the music remained silent,
rested. fearful lest my struggles vosld
b overheard, taking such neager
comfort - I could. The arst blsre
Of the horns started me OF once more.
careless in the midst Of 20 much neise
~ to whether ! ratified the looseued
plaster. or evea dislodged an iii.
secured stone. But ct the best the
passage was maAs By inches, and I
took more than one desperate chance
Of slipping; twice I clung breathless
~ the music ceased, but the secord
time felt convinced I had attained
to the level Of the upper noor
With the next burst Of melody from
below. now somewhat mellowed By
distance and the intervening walls, I
made another attempt to ascend. but
had scarcely attained more than
foot or two when my right hand
plunged into . wide opening. Clinsins
40 best could to . precarious foot.
ing. ran my arm deeper in until I
came In contact with . tin coverilx,
which fell rather noisily to the noor.
I paused. startled at the sound. but no
gleam Of light came through the open.
ing. and instantly realized that the
attic was unoccupied. The rattle Of
the tin would. in all probability. Gre
ate no alarm because Of the din b.
low.
knew now exactly where was. the
only immediate problem being my
ability to squeeze through that mar.
row space. The old-time burner had
evidently been removed. l wriggled
my way in head first. My knees
were doubled up in the chimney, and
Ey feet found solid purchase against
the stones. felt as though the very
skin was being peeled of me. hut
shot forward, my head md shoulders
emerging into the open. Heavens!
what relief! drew a long breath.
dangling over the floor. unable to
reach any support; then kicked and
struggled until fell out headlong, and
lay too exhausted even to move
1t was SO still could plainly hear
the swift beating of my heart. and 50
dark that not an object was discern
ible. The music below had ceased.
nd