The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER xl--continued.

at all, only by creating considerable
alarm. stood, staring helplessly
shout, feeling the imp"esibility OF
escape. l could only walt for my jail
ers to appear. lmpotent 10 Gid myself
IN any way--or her. After ell, that
last thought was the most iipG-anng.
That they suspected Marie 1es,ler OF
being Implicated In both murder and
robbery was clearly evident; In Iced
they not only suspected, bnt were con
WINGED that she had done the cred.
] was secretly obliged to ADMIT That
they had some reason to so relieve;
that they even possessed proof which
would probably convict her In court
of the crime. This gave them ter
rible advantage over the gir.. once
they had her bodily In their posses
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 INSCRIPTIONS crooks, her fate
might be death, disgrace. Certainly 1t
would be foul insult, and, II she failed
TO yield, the desire for revenge might
even drive these towards to 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
of her danger; no one else was In
position to aid her; she must face
this gang absolutely alone unless !
could effect an escape. 1t was not
merely my own life at stake; hers
was also In the balance
And the time In which to act was
short. If / escaped at all, 1t must
be accomplished before my jailers re-
turned, before they dreamed that l
had aroused from unconsciousness, or
had strength enough to make the
attempt. Yet what possible way
suggested itself? / felt In my pockets;
they were utterly empty, except for
single overlooked bill. There was no
means of egress other than the win
dow and that seemed hopeless. Yet
In desperation l crossed over once
more. and again looked out. Gould
I-dare I-attempt to cling 10 that
slight ledge In my stocking feet, even
for the one or two steps necessary
to reach the next window? The very
conception Of sTch feat made my
head reel giddlly and my stomach rise
In protest. Besides, even II l made
II by some miracle, what II that other
window should be closed and locked?
How could ! ever move backward to
regain safety?
Yet watt there was way. danger
Gus enough to be sure, yet possible II
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, firml.
anchored to the easement, and secured
to the brick wall by means Of an iroi
hook. Between the two the space t,
be traversed was not wide; a singh
stride on the ground beneath woul
bridge the distance. If had som
thing to cling to above-anything tina
would keep me upright might hol
my footing on the narrow stone an
make the passage slowly. 1t was
daring, deadly venture, but possible
But what could l hope to utilize .
support? The bare room offered b,
a single suggestion-the dirty eoverl,
which had been thrown over me. Toi
apart from corner to corner ar
twisted into the form Of n rope.
ought to safely sustain my ent
weight In case foot slipped
started to tear with my teeth. and tn
succeeded in ripping the thing fro
end to end. 1t was scarcely lol
enough for the purpose, which COZ
PEELED me to make the moose corr
spondingly small. However, with ii
improyised lasso gripped in my rig
hand, ] took position astrde the S
nf he window, In an endeayer to pI
Ject the loosened end over some pr
tuherance of the blind beyond.
holding tight to the frame with |
left hand. the right was left fir
and ! was enabled to lean out
enough to obtain n clear toss. The
was little the moose could catch
end continued failure left me listle
md discouraged. lost hope. J
ept at It. and finally, to my surpri
The ring CT the cloth settled over
Iron projection Of he hinge and clu
here, extending straight across fir,
~indow to window. l hardly dai
breathe as ] drew the thing taut a
tested the firmness with which 1t "
held at the other end. The no,
closed down tightly about the II
staple, and resisted every effort at
lease. To all seeming 1t was as SAT
anchored ss though l had placed
there by hand. Somehow the "
knowledge that this had been acc.
plished. that the way was op
brought with II a renewal Of the f
Ing Of horror with which had 4
contemplated the possibility Of 81
an accomplishment. Would ever d
the attempt? My head swan as
gazed downward. and then across, q
I Rhrank back absolutely terrified