The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-15
CHAPTER XIII. svor Finds Something in the Dark.

vvor Find. something in the Dark.
 Thers was a strong smell of parafnn AT ir tha room: and from somewhere at tbe far end came a faint tap, tapping sound which might be the light knock fnr of d window-blind. or the rap or signalling finger.
 If | could steer my way to the win aov, and null back the drawn curtains, [ might be able to let in light enough to And matches on mantel-piece or ta- bIe. Then, what good luck if T should discover the case containing the treaty, and 90 off with 1t before v. M" came hack. It was not his, and he was thief: therefore, should be doing him no wrong. and Maxine de Renzie mucn good by taking 1t, if he had lett IL pe. hind, not too well hidden when ne went out.
 Guided in the darkness by slight breeze which still came through the window. though the door was nov shut, shuffied across the uncarpeteo floor, groping with hands held out pe- fore me, as I moved.
 In q moment I brushed against table, then struck my shin on some- thing which proved to be the leg ot chair lying overturned on the floor. nushed if out of the way, but had gone on no more than three or four steps, when caught my foot in rug whicn had got twisted in a heap round tne fallen chair. disentangled myselt iron, it's coils. only to slip and almost lose my balance by stepping into some spilled liquid which lay thick anu greasy on the bare boards.
 The warm hopefulness which l nao brought into this dark, silent room' was chilled and dying now.
 I'm afraid there's been struggle here, I thought And if there had becn a struggle--what of the treaty!
 There seemed to be a good deal Of the spilled liquid, for as felt my way along, more anxious than ever for light, the fioor was still wet and slippery; and then, in the midst of the puddle. l stumbled over thing that was heavy and soft to the touch of my foot.
 A queer tingling. like the sting of a thousand tiny electric needles prickled through my veins, for even before l stopped and laid my hand on that bar rier which was so heavy and yet so soft as 1t stopped my path, I knew what 1t would prove to be.
 1t was as if could see through the dark, to what 1t hid. But though there was no surprise left. there was . shock Of horror as my fingers touched an arm, a throat. an upturned face. And my fingers were wet, as knew my boots must te. And T knew, too. with what thev were. wer.
 I'm ashamedT to say that. after the first shNck of the discovery my impulse was tol ket away, and out of the whole businefE, in which, for reasons which concer Jed others even more than my self, | would be unpleasant to be in- volvedI just at this time especially l could 'go downstairs now. pnst the sleeping concierge. and with luck no one need ever know that had been in this lark room of death
 But as quickly as the impulse came it wknt I must stop here and search for Ikhe treaty, no matter what hap penisd, until I had found it or made suril 1t was not to be found; must not thiflk of escape. If there were matches in fine room, we'll and good; If not, must go elsewhere for them, and come back. It was a grim task, but 1t had to be done.
 Somehow, got to the manteipiece; and there, luckily, among litter of pipes and bottles and miscellaneous rubbish, did lay my hand on broken