Cheyenne record., 1917-02-08
CHAPTER xxl-csnslnusd.


Perhaps Ne wesd would Be Given me-
the escape might already bs accom-
piishsd, and I Isft here 10 ny fats.
DoiEondst knew nothing ef my decd
SION to accompany D'Artisny in his
sxiis. II The way was dimcult and
dangerous, he might not consider Il
essential to communicate with me at
all. De Tsn1 had promised, 10 b
sure, yet he might have failed to 20
instruct the younssr man. clung to
the window, the agony Of this possi-
biiity driving me Wild.
Mon Disul was mat q noise over
hsad7 I could see nothing. yet q
leaned farther out, q cord touched my
face. I grasped II, and drew the dan
Cling end In. II was weighted with .
bit Of wood. A single coal glowed in
the fireplace, and from this ignited
a splinter, barely yielding mo light
enough to decipher the few words
traced on the white surface: "safs %
far; have you any wordT
Ny veins throbbed; could have
screamed In delight, or sobbed in sud
den Joy and rsdsf. fairly crept to
the open window on hands and knees,
animated now with but one thought.
one hope-the desire not to b left
there behind, alone. hung far out,
my face upturned, staring into tho
darkness. The distance was not great,
emily q few feet to tho roof above, yet
30 black was the night that the edge
above me blended tmpsrcephbly
against the sky. 1 could perceive no
movement, no outline. Gould they
have already gomez Was 1t possible
that they merely dropped this brief
message, and instantly vanished1 No.
the cord still danglsd; somewhere in
that dense gloom the two men pssrsd
over the roof sdgs. waiting my ~
sponse.
= Monsieur" 1 called up softly. un-
able 10 restrain my sagerness.
'Yes, madame" 1t was D'Ardgny's
voice. although a mere whisper. You
have some word for met"
"Ay. listen; II there any way by
which I can join your
"Join me-here1' astonishment at
ny request made him incoherent.
"Why. madame, the risk is great"
"Nsver mind that; my reason Ia wor-
thy, nor have We time now to discuss
the matter. Monsieur Boisrondet, is
there a wayT
heard them speak to each other,
a mere murmur Of sound; then another
voice reached my ears clearly.
I'VE have . strong grass rope, ma
dame. which will safely bear your
weight The risk will not be great.
I have made a moose, and will lower
IT."
1 reached It with my hand, but felt
q doubt ~ my fingers clasped 1t.
"'Tis very small. monsieur"
"But strong enough for double your
foot h the moose, and hold tight.
Thsrs ars two Of us holding 1t above"
Ths memory Of the depth below
frkGhtsnsd me. vt crspt forth on the
narrow sill, dinsing desperately to the
taut rope, until I felt my foot safely
pressed Into the moose. which frightened
Arnly about It.
''Now," I said, barely able to make
my lips speak. II am ready"
''Then swing clear, madame; we'll
hold you safs."
doubt II It was q full minute In
which swung out over that gulf amid
the black night. Ny heart seemed to
stop bsa ding, and retained NO sense
other than to cling desperately to the
swayinE cord which alone held me
from being dashed to death on the jag
gsd rocks below. Inch by inch they
drew ne uD, the continuous jerks
yielding . sieksning sensation, but the
distance was so short could scarcely
realize the full danger. before DAT
tigRy grasped me with his hands, and
drew mo in beside him on the roof.
I stood upon my fest, trembling from
excItamsnt. yet encouraged In my pur-
psss hy ~ arst words Of welcome.
"Ads,s." ~ exclaimed. forgetful Of
The Drsssoes of his comraAe. "Sursly
yes haA sssSo0s cause for Joining %
here"
An ! wsssoaAA, Dsadsafr'
'VAA yea 1oabtf Yet surely II was
net DRsfy - say farswell hat yea
assaDsd s0ch r1skr
"No, ponsssss. It was nst - say
faPswsa. I wsaA accempaay yoa In
your eight Do net start Nike tAat
at ~ words; cannot - your facs-
Derhaps II colA I sAsalA lose cour-
age. I have nals ny cAsles, men.
sisur. I WIN As< rssDai1 - slave Of
II. Oassiea. Whether fee gsol q evil,
give ysu ny fAifA."
"You-ysu," ~ AanAs sraspsd mine.
Yes mean ysa win % Win ~ i1te
exile. imts tAe weeAsr
'Yea. Dsnsisgf."
But - yeu realise what Il all
msansf an . fugitive, . hunted
Dah; nsvsr a01in can vsat0 wftA-
In FrencA civiliaat1sa. I must tive
umoag 6avaRea. Ne, -. AhAle. thA