The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-11-03

sion. Guilty or not guilty, she could
not establish her innocence; under
torture and threat, such as they would
doubtless use In their money lust,
there was no knowing what might
happen. Alone, helpless in the grasp
OF these unscrupulous crooks, her fate
might be death, disgrace. Certainly II
would he foul insult, and IL she failed
to yield, the desire for revenge might
even drive those towards to n secret
announcement of her to the police
This, however, would be their last re-
sort; they would exhaust all other
efforts first. And no one else knew
or her danger; no one else was I'm
position to aid her; she must face
this gang absolutely alone unless /
could effect an escape 1t was not
merely my own life ut stake: hers
was also In the balance
And the time in which to act was
short. If ! escaped Mt MI. Il must
be accomplished before my jailers re-
turned, before they dreamed that I
had aroused from unconSCiousness, or
had strength enough to make the
attempt. Yet what possible way
suggested itself? i felt in my rockets.
they were utterly empty, except for a
single overlooked bill. There was no
means Of egress other than the win
dow and that seemed hopeless. Yet
in desperation crossed over once
more, and again looked out. Could
I-dare I-attempt to cling to that
slight ledge in my stocking feet, even
for the one or two steps necessary
to reach the next Window The very
conception Of such feat made nv
head reel giddily and my stomach rise
In protest. Besides, even IL / made
1t by some miracle, what IL that other
window should be closed and locked2
How could l ever move backward to
regain safety?
Yet wait: there was way, danger
Gus enough to he sure, yet possible IL
/ possessed the necessary nerve There
were opened blinds at each window;
they would help some as grasping
spots for the hands. The one within
reach appeared solid enough, firmly
anchored to the easement, and secured
to the brick wall by means of an iron
hook. Between the two the space TO
he traverScd was not wide: single
stride on the ground beneath would
bridge the distance. If | had some
thing to cling to above-anything that
would keep me upright might hold
my footing on the narrow stone and
make the passage slowly. 1t was a
daring. deadly venture, but possible.
But what could hope to utilize as
a support? The bare room offered hut
a single SuGgcStion-the dirty coverlet
which had been thrown over me. Torn
apart from corner to corner, and
twisted into the form OF q rope. il
ought to safely sustain my entire
weiS' N case a foot slipped
started to tear with my teeth AMI thus
succeeded in ripping the thing from
end to END. II was scarcely long
enough for the purpose. which com
PEELED me to make the moose CORE
spondinAy small. However, with this
improvlsed lasSO gripped in my right
hand, ] took position aStrde the sill
of the window, in an cndeaver to pro-
Ject the lOOsencd end over some pro-
tuberance of the blind beyond BY
holding tight to the frame with my
left hand, the right was left free,
and / was enabled to lean out far
enough to obtain clear toss. There
was little the moose could catch on,
and continued failure left me liStless
and discouraged. / lost hope. yet.
kept ut it, and finally, to my surprise,
Of hn ola
iron projection of the hinge and clung
there, extending straight across from
window to window ] hardly dared
breathe as | drew the thing taut and
tested the firmnesS with which IL was
held at the other end The moose
closed down tightly about the iron
staple, and resisted every effort at re-
lease. To all seeming 1t was as safely
anchored as though | had placed it
there by hand. Somehow the very
knowledge that this had been accom-
plished, that the way was open.
brought with 1t renewal of the feel
ing of horror with which I had first
contemplated the possibility OF such
an accomplishment. Would ever dare
the attempt? My head swan as
gaZed downward, and then across, and
1 shrank back absolutely terrified at
the very thought.
Yet my nerve returned, and found
myself cool and determined. 1t was
no pleasant job. to be sure. and I
was compelled to steel myself to the
attempt, yet no longer held back para
lyzed by fear. l easily found secure
fastening for the strip OF bed-spread at
my own window, and then, satisfied
that II was taut and securely held at