The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-09-18
CHAPTER XIV.

The instant that Beryl saw who it
was that was threatening to break into
her room and guessed the reason Of the
visit she shrank back as closely as pos
sible to the wall and waited in breath
less suspense while Pierre Turrian COM
pleted his scrutiny Of the room.
BY STOPPING her head forward very
slightly she was able to watch him and
saw that he was bending sideways from
the ladder while seemingly holding on
to it with one hand.
So long as he continued to stare into
the room she did not move muscle
aud almost held her breath lest he
should hear her and being disturbed
make off
For her rapid, shrewd brain had re-
solyed that she would if possible let
MIN carry out his intention Of getting
into the room, in order that he might
the more clearly reveal his object, while
she took ample means to provide for her
own safety.
Her nimble wits devised an easy
method Of tricking him If only he
would give her an opportunity of a
couple Of minutes preparation, and
this, to her intense relief, he did.
Finding that he had not placed the
ladder sufficiently close to the window
to be able to open it, the man descend
ed it slowly and softly, just as he bad
climbed it, and Beryl, straining every
nerve to listen, heard him go down.
With swift, deft movement she SO
made up the bed that it looked rs though
some one were sleeping in it, and then
she opened the door, which was covered
by curtain, and muf1ling her head in
dark shawl she stood III the doorway
sufficiently concealed by the door cur
tain and waited.
She had not long to wait.
Almost as soon as she had finished
her preparations she heard tho top Of
the ladder humping softly against the
wall as Pierre Turrian came up it again.
As he reached the top and his head
showed between the window and the
sky the moon shone out and lighted up
the window and the figure Of the man
and came flooding into the room almost
to the feet Of the girl.
She saw him peer eagerly into the
room, while it was thus illuminated,
and she could fancy his eyes cleaning
with satisfaction at finding all quiet
within and seeing what looked like the
form Of the sleeper still and motionless
Oh the bed.
In another second the moonlight had
gone, and NIL was dark again, and be-
fore Beryl's eytt had recovered suffi-
GENTLY from the change from moonlight
to dark to let her see what he was do
ing she heard the click of the window
bolt as it flow back before the thin knife
blade which Pierre Turrian had passed
between the sashes.
The next instant the lower sash was
raised cautiously, slowly and almost
noiselessly. save that the draft caused
by the rush of air from the window to
the open door set the curtain rustling,
while Beryl felt the night air strike
cold and chill upon that part of her face
which was uncovered go that she might
sec what was being done.
As soon as the window was raised
high enough the man stepped in SO soft
ly and quietly that Beryl could scarcely
hear him, aud then he closed the win
dow behind him.
At that instant thought occurred to
the girl. What if the Frenchman were
not coming in search Of her, but were
merely paying a surreptitious visit to
this wing Of the house and had chosen
by chance her room to pass through In
that case she stood right in his path.
But his actions almost Immediately
removed the doubt.
The moon had not shone out again
from behind the clouds, and the room
was too dark for Pierre Turrian to see
with any olearness, but Beryl's eyes had
grown go accustomed to tho gloom that
as he stood between her and the window
she could watch every action Of his.
He stood quite still for almost half
minute, looking toward the bed, as 1t
seemed, and the stiffness was so acute
that Beryl could even hear him breathe.
After pause he took something from
his pocket which she thought was a
handkerchief and shook it out lightly,
and, folding it carelessly, held it in his
left hand. Then he stood still, with his
head bent forward toward the bed as
though listening intently for the breath
ing of the sleeper he thought was lying
there at his mercy.
Beryl clinched her teeth as she noticed
this
Next, and with only slight pause,
he took something from another pocket
What it was che could not see, but
when she saw him put it to his mouth
and heard slight creaking sound, as
Of cork being drawn, she knew that it
was bottle, and she was prepared to
sec him pe1r the contents on to the
handkerchief. This done, no thrust the
bottle hastily into side pocket aud
moved slowly and very ,stealthily to-
ward the head Of the bed.
Afaint smell Of drugs spread itself
over the room, and Beryl recognized ii
instantly as ehlosotorm.