Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-01-01
CHAPTER XIV.
] Choose Death.


knew the town well, and few
changes had occurred since last I
walked those streets hand in hand
with my father. 1t had not grown any
larger, and thus far the war had
wrought little damage. The most of
life in the sleepy old town conferred
ABOUT the Frost hotel, a three-story
wooden structure, where the officers
or the garrison lodged, and the court.
mouse, dignifed "edifice of red brick
block beyond. where in other DAYS
my father presided on the ench. now
completely surrounded by a military
camp There we're more Federal SOL
olers mere than had expected to see
VI a remark exchanged between two
'ha1y guard informed me that most
o. lse had arrived during the night
ba, hagiment of Ohio troops. and a
acres Of Of light artillery, destined to
els of a contemplated attack on
acre 4sttn.
The head of our little column halted
IN front of the hotel. but Whitlock
shouted a command to the sergeant,
and we rode. on past, the guard closing
up tightly. | kept my face straight
ahead. determined to make no sign,
out, nevertheless, | had a glimpse of
Noreen. standing at her horses head.
ana, for an instant felt certain her
eyes were resting on me. Then Raw.
mond spoke to her, touching her
sleeve Familiarity with his hand to at
tract attention and she smiled I'D into
his face, as If in answer to some witty
remark. This was the last glimpse
mad as we clattered ION down the
street.
At the courthouse steps the SER
seant turned me over r., the officer Of
the DAY, and was marched into the
basement. The old Jail had evidently
been burned, for could see the roof
had fallen in, and the stone walls
were blackened with smoke, but the
lower story Of the courthouse was bas-
tile enough. the windows barred, the
walls strong and thick. The place In
which they thrust me had at one time
protected the county records, was per-
haps nine feet square, with one mar.
row window high up in the wall. and
an iron door. The aoor and walls
were Of stone, and the ceiling beyond
reach. A soldier threw in a box, to be
utilized as a seat, together with a
couple of blankets.
There. Johnny" he said carelessIy.
II guess you'1 stay here tilr you're
wanted There1l be some grub along
after awhile"
The iron door changed behind him.
and heard the sharp clicS of a heavy
lock, then regular steps passing back
and forth across the stone floor, proof
that a sentinel had been posted. There
seemed little need of one as l sat
down on the box and stared discon.
solately about. The window afforded
ample light, but no hope of escape
The shelves on which had once re-
posed the records of Green Briar
county were of iron, as a safeguard
against fire, with a sheet of iron at
their back, concealing the wall be-
hind. My heart gave a sudden lean.
As boy l had played about this
building, invading every nook and cor
ner. / could even recall when those
shelves we're first installed, and had
sat almost where / was sitting then,
and watched the workmen bolt them
into their present position. 1t was be-
fore my father bought the place out
on the ridge. and we were living only
y block down the street Those shelves
tested against the big chimney. and
there was an opening leading into II,
across which they had nailed a tin
protector before they fastened the
iron 10 the wall
II / could once get In behind that
iron plate the way out would not be
such hard or difficult one to travel
The chimney was large; | recalled
standing upright in the fireplace on
the floor above. and looking up to
where could perceive the light OF The
sky. It was constructed Of irregular
Aftr of afoua which ao47Id q ford lorp