The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-09-30
CHAPTER XI-continued.

course, and could be forced open, IL
at all only by creating considerable
alarm. / stood, staring heIplessly
about, feeling the impoSsibility Of
escape l could only wait for my jail
ers 10 appear, impotent 10 aid myself
in any way-Or her. After all, that
last thought was the most impelling.
That they suspected Marie GeSsler Of
being implicated in both murder and
robbery was clearly evident: indeed.
they not only suspected, but We're con
WINGED that she had done the deed
] was secretly obliged 10 admit that
they had some reason TO so believe /;
that they even possessed proof which
would probably convict her in court
of the crime This gave them ter
rible advantage over the girl, once
they had her bodily in their posses
sion Guilty or not guilty, she could
not establish her innocence; under
torture and threat, such they would
doubtless use in their money Inst,
there was no knowing what might
happen Alone, helpless in the grasp
OF these INSCRIPTIONS crooks, her fate
might be death, disgrace, Certainly 1t
TO yield. the desire for revenge might
even drive those towards to a 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
81 her danger; no one else was in
position to aid her; she must face
this gang absolutely alone unless l
could effect an escape. II was net
merely my own life at stake; hers
was also in the balance
And the time ia which TO act was
short If ] escaped at all, il must
DE accomplished before my jailers re-
turned before they dreamed that 1
had aroused from Inconsistencies, or
had strength enough TO make the
attempt. Yet what possible way
suggested itself? l felt in my pockets
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 l crossed over once
more and again looked out. Could
dare attempt 10 cling to that
slight ledge in my stocking feet. even
for the one or two steps necessary
70 reach the next window? The very
conception Of such feat made my
head reel giddily and my stomach rise
in protest Besides. even if / made
at by some miracle what If that other
window should be closed and locked?
How could ] ever move backward 70
regain safety?
Yet wait: there was q way. danger
q
7 possessed the necessary nerve There
were opened blinds at each window
they would help some as grasping
spots for the hands The enc within |
reach appeared solid enough, firmly
anchored tn the easement. and secured |
to the brick wall by means of an iron |
hook Between the two the space to |
be traversed was not wide; a single |
stride ON the ground beneath would |
bridge the distance. If l 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 |
daring, deadly venture, but possible. |
But what could | hope to utilize as |
a support? The bare room offered but |
a single Suggestion-the dirty coverlet |
which had been thrown over me- Torn
apart from corner to corner. and
twisted into the form of a rope. it
ought TO safely sustain my entire
weight in case a foot slipped.
started 10 tear with my teeth, and thus
succeeded in ripping the thing from
end to end. 1t was scarcely long
enough for the purpose. which COM
PEELED me TO make the moose CORE
SpOndingly small. However, with this
4mpFovised lasS0 gripped In my right
hand. ] took position astride the sill
OF the window, In an endeaver TO pro-
5ect the loosened 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 10 obtain n clear toss There
was little the moose could catch on,
and continued failure left me listless
and discouraged I lost hope. yet
kept at ii, and finally. to my surprise.
the ring of the cloth settled over an
iron projection OF the hinge, and chung
there, extending straight across from
window to window l hardly dared
breathe as I drew the thing taut and
tested the firmnesS with which IL was i,
held at the other end. The moose
closed down tightly about the iron ,
staple. and resisted every effort at re- ,
lease To all seeming IL was as safely ,
anchored as though / had placed IL ,
there by hand. Somehow the very
knowledge that this had been accom-
plished. that the way was open, 9
brought with l. a renewal OF the feel :
ing OF horror with which / had first :
contemplated the possibility Of such {
an accomplishment. Would l ever dare 6
the attempt? My head swan as !
gazed downward. and then across, and d
I shrank back absolutely terrified az II,
the very thought. :
Yet my nerve returned and / four1 h
myself cool and determined 1t was r
no pleasant job. to be sure, and II
was compelled to steel myself to the >
yetd no longer held back para v
Iyzed by fear. / easily found a secure a
fastening for the strip OF bed-spread at s
my OVID window, and then, satisfied b
that IL was taut and securely held at Il
both ends. lowered my body cautiously | u