Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1916-02-11

"illiu the chimney FOUND ample
space in which to explore.
could see nothing, and was com.
PEELED TO rely entirely upon the sense
Of touch. Iron bars had been left on
one SIDE the chimney, forming an
irregular ladder My cropping hands
located these, and by their aid began
70 climb slowly upward. At the level
OF the nrst story ] came upon a pro
lection OF rock, possibly six or eight
inches wide. on which found secure
foothold, and was thus able to regain
breath and strength for a renewal of
the struggle. was crouched opposite
the oldtime fireplace, and the band,
playing noisily, was within very few
feet Of where hid. However, not a.
CLEAN OF light was visible, and 1t was
some time before located the open
ing which had been left for a stove.
pipe. Even then could feel no pine.
but, as l extended my arm, a finger
burst through the paper which had
been pasted across the entrance. and
a glow of radiance illumined the black
walls about me.
waited. motionless, holding my
breath in fear that some eye might
have witnessed the tearing Of the pa
per- but there was no cessation of
noise no evidence of discovery. As
sailed by a temptation to view the
| scene, found foothold q little higher
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
its occasion. The floor was crowded
the men almost without exception in
Federal uniform.
The couples whirled past, circling
the room. watched the faces ca
gerly, but they were all strange. No
doubt some Ok those young women
had known dis girls, but they had
grown out of my recollection. None
among the officers present, SO far as
! could tell, had ever come in con
tact with-ah! yesl there was Whit
lock sitting disconsolately alone below
the judges bench. / chung to my
perch determining to assure myself,
but my eyes encountered no other
familiar countenance. or 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 l 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 1t had been
used for storage purposes, and there
was narrow stairway leading down
into the sheriff's office. Az! and there
was contrivance there once in which
they used to burn waste papers l re-
membered a 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, @nd the chimney funnel was
a big one. Possibly it 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. 1t offered a
chance, q hope-and | 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. Ny
only relief was to bind a handkerchief
across mouth and nostrils.
While the music remained silent, j
rested, fearful lest my struggles would
be overheard. taking such meager
comfort az l could. The first blare
of the horns started me off once more
careless Id the midst Of SO much noise
as to whether | ratified the loosened
: plaster, or even dislodged an i'll
secured stone But at the best the
passage was made by inches, and /
took more than one desperate chance
of slipping: twice / chung breathless
as the music ceased. but the second
r time / felt convinced / had attained
, to the level Of the upper floor.
With the next burst of melody from
, below, now somewhat mellowed by
distance and the intervening walls,
made another attempt to ascend. but
> had scarcely attained more than q
!, foot or two when my right hand
: plunged into wide opening. Clinging
D as best 4 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 nc
: CLEAN of light came through the open
2 ing. and l instantly realized that the
I attic was unoccupied. The rattle oil
: the tin would, in all probability. ere
: ate no alarm because of the din be
| Inv