The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-10-21

In vain.
l moved slowly, barely an inch at
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 unOccupled. 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 tugglng 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. ] felt as though I had re-
turned from the dead, the nervous re-
action so great that lay for a 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
l had fed. 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. l tried the door, and II
opened silently, permitting me to
glance out into a narrow dark hall
way, unexpected. could dlmly
discern the top Of a flight Of stairs
leading down to the story below.
slipped out, anL closed the door softly
behind me- being plunged instantly into
funeral blackness.
/ CROPPED way forward coward the
stairs, guided by hand against the
wall, until the touch of the upper rail
assured me Of my position. A narrow
strip of carpeting-rag took It to
be from the feellng-extended down
the center OF the stairs, sufficient to
muffie 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 a coat
pocket and slipped them on.
Twice the Soards creaked ominously
under my tread. sounding terrific in
that silence. and causing me to hang
in suspense over the bRnister rail,
holding my breath in fear of discovery.
At last I att ined the wider space at
the bottom, and sought blindly to ex-
plOre my surroundings. But for the
carpet unherfOOt. and a small sofa
encountered in a recess. would have
believed myself In a deserted house.
knew ! was on the third floor. yet
there was no curve in the banisters.
showing a way to the next flight Of
stairs. nor could locate them by any
effort. AS the result of blindly cropping
about, lost all sense of direction and
must have wandered into a side room
through an undraped recess, for l
suddenly brought up against a table,
Uttered with papers and books.
Startled by this encounter into a
realization that was lost in strange
house at an unhOly hour Of the morn
ing and that the slightest misstep In
that darkness might result l., an alarm
to awaken every sleeper. for a few
minutes l did not venture TO move In
any direction. Yet manifestIy ! could
not remain there indefinitely, and so,
blindly choosing course, set forth,
feeling a way cautiously forward until
first ran into chair. and then struck
one hand against a side wall. fol-
lowed this latter as best / could,
inspired by the thought that II l CON
tinue6 this course long enOugh I must
attain the opening through which |
mad entered the room. On the way
my hands felt the outlines II 4 closed
door. and. in aimIessIy cropping about.
encountered key in the lock. It
was so inserted as to be extracted
at the touch Of my fingers and Instant
~ a tiny ray Of Hight shot forth
through the vacated hole il was such
a relief In the heart Of that darkness
az tt cause me to quickly bend down
and endeaver to view the scene within.
II was evidently a chamber of some
size. and well furnished. rather dImly
Illuminated by single shaded electric
globe. ? handsome green rug Oh the
floor. and numerous pictures hung
about the walls. could perceive the
outlines OF a he'd at one side. barely
within the range Of the vision. and
opposite this an ornate dresser. with
three mirrors. But what my eyes
rested upon with greater interest was
a luxurious leather couch beside the
further wall on which woman rested.