Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-02-17

ing through of my body. and, once
within the chimney. I 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
to climb slowly upward. At the level
OF the first story l 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 renewal Of
the struggle. l was crorched opposite
the oldtime fireplace, and the band,
playing noisily, was within very few
feet Of where l hid. However, not a
CLEAN of light was visible. and 1t was
some time before I located the open
ing which had been left for a stove
pipe. Even then I could feel no pipe,
but, as / extended my arm, finger
Uuibt tHiOuSh thC paPSA hau
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 temptation to view the
scene, founc foothold little higher
up, and, cliDging to the edge of the
hole, brough, my eyes to a 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 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. 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 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 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, and the chimney funnel was
a big one. Possibly 1t 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 a black mystery. However,
the irregularity of the stones promised
finger and foot hold. 1t offered a
chance. a hope-and / could ask no
more.
l 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 l 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, l
rested. fearful lest my struggles would
be overheard, taking such meager
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 l 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 secord
time felt convinced l 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. Clinging
as best ] could to 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 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 probability. Gre