Philip weekly review and Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1912-1918, 1916-03-09

scene. I found foothold q little higher
up, and, clinging to the edge of the
hole, brought my eyes to level with
the rent in the paper. The vista was
not a wide one and l 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 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 ever come in con.
tact with-ah! yes! there was Whit
lock sitting disconsolately alone below
the judges bench. clung to 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
Raymonds absence. He was the sort
to whom such an occasion az this
would naturally appeal.
Satisfied by my scrutiny, l explored
the opposite wall in vain for any simi-
lar opening. AS 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 a contrivance there once in which
they used to burn waste papers. 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
it fun. and the chimney funnel was
q big one. Possibly 1t was there still,
but could l succeed in getting up that
far? The light shining through the
broken paper permitted a 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 q black mystery. However,
the irregularity of the stones promised
! finger and foot hold. 1t offered q
chance. . hope-and l 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 sui.
location. and | dislodged enough SCOT
SO was compelled to struggle con.
stantly to refrain from coughing My
only relief was to bind handkerchief
across mouth and nostrils.
While the music remained silent,
rested. fearful lest my struggles would
be overheard. taking such meager
comfort as ] could. The first blare
of the horns started me of once more.
careless in the midst of so much noise
as to whether l 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 breathless
as the music ceased. but the secord
time I 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 a
foot or two when my right hand
plunged into Q wide opening. Clingine
as best could to a precarious foot.
ing. ! ran my arm deeper in until |
came in contact with a tin covering.
which fell rather noisily to the floor
| paused. startled at the sound. but no
CLEAN of light came through the open
ing. and instantly realized that the
attic was unoccupied. The rattle Of
the tin would In all proba bility. ere.
ate no alarm because of the din be-
low.
|
only immediate problem being ny
ability to squeeze through that mar,
row space. The old-time burner had
evidently been removed wriggled
my way in head first. My knees
were doubled up in the chimney, and
my feet found solid purchase against
the stones. felt as though the very
skin was being peeled off me, but |
shot forward. my head and shoulders
emerging into the open. Heavens!
what relief! l 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 SO
dark that not an object was discern.
ible. The music below had ceased.
and. as was now on the opposite
side Of the building. the sound of con-
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