Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-09-21

WAS SOinpeileu 10 Siccl tnSSSIA 10 the
attempt, yet no longer held back para
lyzed by fear. 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
both ends. lowered my body caurAously
over the sill. until my stockinged feet
neryously gFipped ,sle narrow stone
OF the coping. I dare not look down
or permit my mind to dwell for an
instant on what was below. Slowly
| Strengthened up, until my entire
weight was upheld by this precari0uS
foot-hold. To advance step by step
was impossible; all could hope to
accomplish in locomotion was to
stealthily advance one foot a feiS
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 snail, yet the slight
est effert at hurrying would mean
| certain fall.
This was not uuduly perflous, how
ever so long as l retained firm hold
on the sill. or even could grip my
fingers over the lower frame of the
open blind, as was enabled thus to
partially sustain my weight. and, even
IL 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
bIance Of a rope and, as II gave sick
eningIy to the pressure, the old fear
swept over me in a torrent Of agony.
/ / could never make ft-neverl would
go swirling, crashing down to that
/ death below. 1t was but n step. to
| be sure; a step and I could reach
/ the firmness OF the other blind; but.
| oh, the step-the speechless horror of
/ it, Yet there was no going backward
! l 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 to that thin, unstable cord, balanc-
I 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; il is hardly a
memory. except as some wild deiirium
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
expressible agony-then I gripped the
support Of wood once more, and chung
to 1t as with the grasp of death.
\ / chung there until my mind came
back. until felt the return Of strength
to my body, and l could look down
through the moonlight without Keeling
dizzily. The blind was strong, firmly
braced. and ! felt safe In its protec-
ton. But what about the window
beyond? Suppose 1t should be lockedf
or the room int which ] opened.
i SSsnpi.df I could not continue to cling
4 there In uncertainty: must learn the
truth-assure myself that had not
passed through all this tense agony
Il In vain.
moved slowly, barely an inch at
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 un0ccupied. Its very appearance
gave me courage. l balanced myself
on the precarious footing OF the stone,
ciinging tenacfouslY with my left hand
to the iron hisg.ss OF the blind, while
my right endea9ored to raise the sash.
AT first / believed the window
firmly fastened down-the suspicion
leaving me numb with despair. But
reckless tugging loosened its hold,
and enabled me to shove up the sash
little by little, until finally the open
lag became sufficient for me to squeeze
through. / felt as though / had re-
turned from the dead. the nervous re-
action so great that lay for moment
on the floor where l had fallen. un.
able to move. ] knew ] was alone
the space untenanted the walls as
bare as in that other room from which
I 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 | tried the door. and II
opened silently, permitting me to
glance out into a narrow dark hall
way, uncarpe.ed could dimly
discern the top of a flight Of stairs
leading down TO the story below.
slipped out, and closed the door softly
behind me, being plunged instantly into
funereal blackness.
CROPPED a 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 carpeting-rag took 1t to
be from the feeling-extended down
the center of the stairs. sufficient to
muffie any footsteps. and / paused
q moment listening for the slightest
noise amid the darkness beneath. All
remained sim ami mysterious; so that
I drew forth my shoes from a coat
pocket and slipped them on
Twice the boards creaked ominously
under my tread, sounding terrific In
that silence, and causing me 10 hang
in suspense over the banister rail,
holding my breath In fear OF discovery.
At last attained the wider space at