Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-09-01

weight was upheld by this precarious
foot-hold. To advance step by step
was impossible; all could hope to
accomplish in locomotion was to
stealthily advance one foot few
inches, sliding it along the stone. ever
retaining contact. and then, as care
fully drawing the other after until
they met. toe and heel 1t was the
slow progress of a snail, vet the slight
est effort at hurrying would mean a
certain fall.
This was not unduly perilous, how
ever, so long as retained firm hold
on the sill, or even could grip my
fingers over the lower frame of the
apen blind, as | was enabled thus to
partially sustain my weight and, even
if a foot slipped. the feel of the solid
wood yielded confidence. But finally
my hand reached out and grasped only
the cloth cord. twisted into some sem
blance of rope, and, as 1t gave sick
eningly TO the pressure, the old fear
swept over me in a torrent of agony.
L
go swirling, crashing down to that
death below 1t was but a step, to
be sure; a step and l could reach
the tirmneSs of the other blind; but
oh, the step-the speechless horror of
it Yet there was no going backward .
| tried this, only to realize at once its
impossibility. and the perspiration
burst out from every pore, as the full
horror of my situation suddenly
flashed over me. | must go on, trust
ing myself above the gulf. There was
no other way, no retreat, no means of
escape. / do not know now how the
act was accomplished; it is hardly a
memory, except as some wild delirium
of sleep haunts one when they awake.
Inch by inch | crept, hand encroach-
ing on hand, foot pressing against foot,
every slightest movement an in
expressiLle agony-then l gripped the
support of wood once more, and chung
to it as with the grasp of death.
l chung there until my mind came
back, until felt the return of strength
to my body, and | could look down
through the moonlight without Keeling
dlzzily. The blind was strong, firmly
braced. and | felt safe in its protec-
ton. But what about the wine wv
beyond? Suppose 1t should be locked ?
or the room into which opened,
oooup;adp 7 nouId N nt cnptinua 70 clipu
there in uncertainty: must learn the
truth--assure myself that | had not
passed through all this tense agony
In vain.
a time. each advancing foot feeling
for support, but more confident now
because of the grasp of my fingers on
the upper wood. The window was
closed, but dark and grimy looking.
as though the room within had been
long unoccupied. Its very appearance
gave me courage. | balanced myself
on the precarious footing of the stone
clinging tenaciously with my left hand
to the iron hinge of the blind, while
my right endeavored to raise the SASH
AT first believed the window
firmly fastened down-the suspicion
leaving me numb with despair. But
reckless Juggling loosened its hold
and enabled me to shove up the sash
little by little, until finally the open
ing became sufficient for me to squeeze
through. I felt as though | had re-
turned from the dead, the nervous re-
action so great that lay for moment
on the floor where | had fallen, I'M
able to move. ] knew | was alone,
the space untenanted. the walls as
bare as in that other room from which
! had fled. / knew this. and in my
exhaustion cared to know no more.
Then | staggered to my knees, and,
with opened eyes stared curiously
about, gathering my wits together.
There was nothing to see but the
four walls | tried the door, and II
opened silently, permitting me to
glance out into narrow dark hall
way, uncarpeted. could dimly
discern the top of flight of stairs
leading down to the story below. |
slipped out, and closed the door softly
behind me, being plunged instantly into
funeral backness.
CROPPED way forward toward the
stairs, guided by hand against the
wall until the touch Of the upper rail
assured me Of my position. A narrow
strip Of carpetina-rag took 1t to
be from the feeling-extended down
the center of the stairs. sufficient to
muffle any footsteps. and ! paused
moment listening for the slightest
noise amid the darkness beneath. All
remained still and mysterious; so that
drew forth my shoes from coat
pocket and slipped them on.
Twice the boards creaked ominously
under my tread, sounding terrific In
that silence, and causing me to hang
In suspense over the banister rail.
holding my breath in fear Of discovery.
At last | attained the wider space at
the bottom, and sought blindly to ex-
plore my surroundings. But for the
AM. nd