Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-02-24

which had been thrown over me- Torn
apart from corner to corner, and
twisted into the form of rope, 1t
ought to safely sustain my entire
weight in case foot slipped
started to tear with my teeth. and thus
succeeded in ripping the thing fr0S,
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
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 to lean out far
! enough to obtain a clear toss. There
was little the moose could catch on,
and continued failure left me listless
and discouraged. I lost hope, yet
kept at it, 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. / hardly dared
breathe as / drew the thing taut and
tested the firmness with which it 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 it was as safely
anchored as though I had placed it
there by hand Somehow the very
knowledge that, this had been accom-
plished, that the way was open,
brought with it a renewal of the feel
ing of horror with which l had first
contemplated the possibility of such
an accomplishment. Would I 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 found
myself cool and determined. 1t was
no pleasant job, to be sure, and
was compelled to steel myself to 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 1t was taut and securely held at
both ends, lowered my body cautiously
over the SILL until my stockinged feet
nervously gripped the narrow stone
Of the coping. dare not look down
or permit my mind to dwell for an
instant on what was below. Slowly
I Strengthened up, until my entire
weight was upheld by this precariOus
footlhold. To advance step by step
was impossible; all l could hope to
accomplish in locOmotiOn was to
Stealthily advance one foot few
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 effort at hurrying would mean
certain fall.
This was not unduly perilous, how
ever, so long as I retained firm hold
on the sill, or even could grip my
fingers over the lower frame Of the
open blind, as I was enabled thus to
partially sustain my weight. and, even
If 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 rope, and, as 1t gave sick
eningly to the pressure, the old fear
IN Of q
I could never make it-never! would
60 swirling, crashing down to that
death below. 1t was but step, to
be sure; step and l could reach
the drmness of the other blind; but,
oh, the step-the speechless horror of
1t Yet there was no going backward:
I 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. I must go on, trust
ing to that thin, unstable cord, balanc-
ing myself above the gulf. There was
no other way, no retreat, no means of
escape. I do not know now how the
act was accomplished 1t is hardly a
memory, except as some wild delirium
Of sleep haunts one when they awake.
Inch by inch I crept, hand encroach-
ing on hand, foot pressing against foot,
every slightest movement an in
expressible agony-then / gripped the
support Of wood once more, and clung
to it as with the grasp Of death.
I clung there until my mind came
back, until I felt the return Of strength
to my body, and I could look down
through the moonlight without reeling
dizzily. The blind was strong, firmly
braced, and / felt safe In its prOtec-
ton. But what about the window
beyond? Suppose it should be locked?
or the room into which I opened,
occupied? I could not continue to cling
there in uncertainty: must learn the
truth-assure myself that I had not
passed through all this tense agony
In vain.
I 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 uDper wood. The window was