The diamond drill., 1921-06-04

suggested itselff felt In my pockets:
they We're 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. 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 q feat made my
head reel giddily and my stomach rise
In protest. Besides. even II I made
II by some miracle. what II that other
window should be closed and lockedf
How could ever move backward to
regain safetyf
Yet wait: there was a 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. firmly
anchored 10 the easement, and secured
10 the brick wall by means OF an iron
hook. Between the two the space to
be trnversed was not wide; q single
stride on the ground beneath would
bridge the distance. II / had some
thing 10 cling TO above--nnythlng that
would keep me upright might hold
my footing on the narrow stone and
make the passage slowly. It was q
daring. deadly venture. but possible.
But what could hope to utilize as
a support? The hare room offered but
a single suggestion-the dirty coverlet
which had been thrown over me. Torn
apart from corner TO corner. an,.
twisted into the form OF rope. it
ought 10 safely sustain my entire
weight In case foot slipped. I
started 10 tear with my teeth, and thus
succeeded In ripping the thing from
end TO end. II was scarcely long
enough for the purpose, which COM
PEELED me 10 make the moose corre-
spondingly small. However, with this
improvised lasso gripped In my right
hand. took position astride the sill
OF the window, In an endeaver TO pro-
ject 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 20 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 at II, and finally. TO my surprise.
the ring of the cloth settled over an
iron projection OF the hinge, and clung
there, extending straight across from
window TO window. I hardly dared
breathe as / drew the thing taut and
tested the flrmness with which II 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 II 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 II a renewal Of the feele
Ing OF horror with which I had first
contemplated the possibility OF such
an accomplishment. Would ever dare
the attempt? My head swan as I
gazed downward. and then across, and
I shrank back absolutely terrified at
the very thought.
Yet my nerve returned, and I found
myself cool and determined. II was
no pleasant Job, 10 be sure, and /
was compelled 20 steel myself TO the
attempt, yet no longer held back para
lyzed by fear. l easily found n secure
fastening for the strip of bed-spread nj
my own window. and then, satisfied
that 1t was taut and securely held at
both ends, lowered my body cautiously
over the sill, urrll my stockinged feet
nervously grlpped the narrow stone
OF the coping. / 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 precarlous
foot-hold. To advance step by step
was impossible: all could hope to
accomplish In locomotlon was to
stealthily advance one foot a few
inches, sliding II along the stone, ever
retaining contact, and then, as care
fully drawing the other after until
they met. toe and heel. II was tha
slow progress OF snail, yet the slight
est effort Mt hurrying would mean a
certain fall. :, .,....,vnresAa \,
This was not unduly perilous, 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
II 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
blance Of a rope, and, as II gave sick
eningly TO the pressure, the old fear
swept over me In a torrent OF agony.
could never make jt-neverI would
go swirllng, crashing down TO that