The Washington times., 1905-07-09
PART LCHAPTER II.


Anna held the lamp above her head
and her fingers moved eagerly as they
unfastened the catch of the bar. There
was no fear in her face, no shadow of
II in her mind; her whole being was
absorbed IN one idea-the knowledge
that between her and the rush of life
there stood only one small door
She heard her father stumble. she
heard a dragging sound. as he pulled
back the curtain that divided the par
lor from the shop: then she quickened
her movements and the bar dropped
from the door with a clang. An instant
later she blew out the lamp.
IF there is a row, it's best to have
40 light. Do you hear, father?''
Solny responded inaudibly; his voice
had the piteousness of a childs.
Anna smiled. Its all right. Here's
my hand" She held out her hand, and
to her impatience the minute seemed
interminable before his fingers, CROP
ing in the air, found and grasped her
twn.
But you can do no good-and I dis
like the dark. Anns.''
II wasn't thinking about doing good.
I want to see things. Are you ready?"
His hand frightened on hers.
Father she said afresh. You can
hear it again now-if you listen hard
It's away behind the house; it's back
in Enbury street, but the wind is blow
ing it round the corner. Can't you hear?
Voices and running?'' She pulled him
forward, and for a space there was no
sound In the place beyond their differ
emily taken breaths.
The she Strengthened herself Solny
shrank against her arm, but she moved
him aside and took fresh step forward
Just wait for me, father-and don't
light the lamp. I'll be back in minute
Il only want to see.''
"But, Anna" He CROPPED forward
and caught her arm. If you must go.
go by the yard into the Passage-it's
easier, it's safer than the front door,
She laughed. And be trampled TO
death in the Passage if crowd came
up. Twill be all right, father; I'll shut
the door-and I'll knock when I'm ready
to come back. Now!" With a roar from
the freed wind that whirled her skirts
and whistled in her ears, she let the
door fail open and STOOD framed in the
aperture. For a moment she breathed
in the freshness OF TIE night; then she
her. A second later, it closed with a
gentle thud-shutting her on the outer
side.
The street was a sweep of gray, whip
ped clean by the gale. To her right, as
she paused on the narrow footpath, ran
the by-way known as the Passage; an
iil-kept lane that Joined Enbury street
with Spfnner's alley, and into which the
yard at the side Of Solny's house opened
by little door. TO her right stretched
Felt street, on which the shop front
opened, place of no great width, stone
paved and possessing houses of enor-
nous age. She glanced along it's length
with impartial eyes. It was una attractive
in the day; 1t was even more uninvit-
ing IN the night 1t had a desolate air
the desolate monotony Of an overland
liar scene. She knew every curve in the
caves. every stone in the pavement
Her eyes wandered from one object to
another. First, beyond the curio shop,
came the bakers: then the pawnshop
with its Haunting sign: then the tiny
cul-de-sac, no more than a gaping
mouth among the dull shadows; then
But her eyes grew weary; she turned
and walked a step or two toward the
corner: then paused again. On the op-
pOSite Sidc tue houses were a
black mass, save where a candle show
ed through a scanty blind or a street
lamp caught reflections in window
pane. Everywhere were silence and
shadow and an apprehensive sense OF
things to come. She put UP her hand
and smoothed the long wisps of hair
that the wind had blown free of her
piait Then she gave a slight cry and
stepped backward as a dog fed round
the corner of the Passage and darted
down Spinner's alley with a howl. A
second later, hot upon it's precursor,
came another fugitive; but, unlike the
dog, it lurched into the cross streets
with the speed of badly-launched ar
row. and there paused.
Anna felt her blood ebb and her
breath catch She stood immovable. her
hand suspended In the air. In the un-
certain light the newcomer was not
easy OF defnition-beyond the fact that |
he was man and small OF stature: |
nevertheless. as he paused in the open
space with the breathless stiffness of a