The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-12-01

|
| her conjectures to herself, and they
were of a nature anything but flatter-
ing to the male occupant of No. "a.
1t was again brilliant, moonlit
summers night, and Blanche threw
| herself into a capacious chair by the
window prior to disrobing. She was
| commencing somewhat petulant
complaint upon the shortcomings of
| the evening entertainment when sud-
denly she was pulled up short by a
| low, blood-curdling wall from the adj
| joining room.
Blanche started up white and fright
ened.
"PhiI, what was that p
Before he could reply the moan of
pain became articulate, and once more
the woman'S voice reached them in
low, distinct tones through the open
window.
Frank. let me out Have mercy
OH me Oh, let me out ~
A mans voice, again in gruff, unin-
telligible reply, and then once again
the piteous, pleading voice:
III do anything, Frank. I'll never
tell anybody you are my husband.
Only let me gov
Blanche's grasp on her husbands
hands frightened. Philip listened not
less intently than she did.
Have pity, Frank, have pity,
Don't you remember that you used TO
say you loved me? Why are you so
cruel now? l never did you any
harm. Oh, let me out l can't bear
it You can have all my money,
every penny only don't make me go
back -
A brutal, unqualified oath was the
sole answer to this appeal it was fol-
lowed by a faint, smothered cry:
No no never will not go back
be killed outright ~
ond; and Blanche and Philip stood
breathless; then came a muffled shrek
of agony.
mo no oh, no, Frank l did not
mean it, I'll do what you like. Don't
kill me. Help Helpr'
With cry of righteous rage Phil
dropped his wife's hand and dashed
across the balcony. He shook the
closed windows vigorously, regardless
Of everything save the frantic desire
to prevent a horrible crime.
A dead silence had followed the
woman's last cry, and when at last
Lorimer forced the windows and
bounded into the room he found it in
darkness, except for the streak of
weird moonlight that followed him.
In the darkness he could just discern
the figure of man standing by q
huge black trunk.
What is the meaning of this - ask
ed the man, advancing, but Phil push
ed him roughly aside.
What have you done with that I'M
fortunate woman?'
A feeble moan struck on his ear.
Where are you p he cried, Il will
help you"
"Oh, let me out let me out came
TO him in feeble-it seemed almost
dying-tones.
You brute ~ cried Lorimer, beside
himself with excitement and indigna-
ton.
At this moment the room was invad-
ed by motley crowd in all stages of
deshabille, for after Pills departure
Blanche had raised an alarm in such
incoherent fashion that half the hotel
was swarming into No. "a, uncertain
whether murder, fire or sudden death
was the cause of the midnight disturb
ance.
at is his wife," explained Phil,
frantically. He's been trying to kill
her. She is hidden here somewhere"
Here here Oh, am dying ~
1.-The trunk ~ cried some one. With
| one accord they bore down upon the
! huge black trunk every ones fingers
| were thrust forward to unbuckle the
straps, the moaning growing fainter
and fainter, till, as the last fastening
| gave way, it ceased altogether.
! I'VE are too late" cried Phil, as he
| threw open the lid. The poor thing
is" He stopped, started back and
looked around him III bewilderment.
! The rest of the company crowded for
ward and peered into the trunk.
'Why, it's empty ~ they exclaimed
in chorus.
Gentlemen gentlemen y; cried the
suave voice OF the hotel proprietor
from the door. What does this
mean p
I'VE don't know cried everyone,
uncertain to be greatly amused or in
tensely indignant.
''This gentleman continued the
proprietor, indicating his guest of the
seraphic countenance, who stood Smil-
ing silently, this gentleman is Della
we're Darcy, the celebrated ventrilo-
quist, who will appear to morrow
evening at the Winter Gardens. He
has been amusing you with a little pri-
waite rehearsal"
There was most gratifying attend
ance at the Winter Gardens on the
following night to witness Delaware
Darcey's entertainment, for, as the
poet tells us
Great are the uses of advertisement.
But neither Philip Lorimer nor his
wife was among the audience. They
had left Eden-on-Sea by an early
train.