New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-17
By JACQUES FUTRELLE

three inches to the left OF
his second Waisteoat button the point OF a
srlletto. and he glanced At Il from time time in
frank uneaSlnesS. then ms eyes returned to the
flushed, tense face OF The girl who held II. She was
ltahan Tier eyes were splenddly black and there
was a CLEAN in them that anything but
assuring Her scarlet lips parted slightly. dis
closing small regular. white teeth clenched tightly
together. brilliant muticolored headdreSs par
tally confined her halr and rppled down about
her shoulders. Her skirt Was barely 10 her ankles.
feel like the third OF Italian comic
opera, Hatch thought grlrnly. Then aloud " hat
Is all this;
You must be silent, signor!" warned the young
woman IN excellent English
am going TO be. Hatch explained; but still
should like to
You must be silent. signori'' the girl repeated
10 don take Your hands from Your pockets!
But look here,
The stiletto point was pressed in until he felt it
against his flesh lie WINGED lnyoluntarIly but wisely
held his tongue. II was = time 10 stand perfectly
Still and wait. He had come TO the tenement IN the
OF his professional duties, and had raped
tins door to inquire IN which apartment certain
family lived The door had been opened by the young
Woman-and now this He dldn understand II; he
didn't make pretenae OF conlectuTng what
Il meant. He just kept on standing still
From outside the Y&Tled noises OF busy
Cty- Inside the gloom grew about him, and gradu-
ally the Tlgld mOtIOnlesS figure OF the girl became
shadoWy silhouette Then an electric arc light
SIDE which happened TO be on a level with a window.
spluttered and flashed into brIlanCe almost binding
HIM Through the murk OF the room only their
rl1tonless figures we're visible
After awhile the reporter heard vaguely stealthy
shuttle OF feet II some Was passing along the
hall. Then the door leading from the hall into the
next room opened and closed softly. The girl
prodded him with the stietto point remind him
10 be silent. Il WAS needless warning because now
Hatch dInlly fOresaW some grave and imminent
danger 10 himself the presence OF this third person
whoever Il might be Cnconsclcusly he Was con-
Centratng all has forces mental and physical. for
Tor something he didn't know what.
The shutting feet IN the next room He
heard them moving about as II coming toward the
connecting door. Then hand was LAID on the knob,
the lock ratified a little, and the door softly
closed Hatch took q deep breath OF Teltf-Whoeyer
TINS third person might be, he evidently had
business IL the room with them just that moment
With strHning ears and tense nerves the reporter
listened. and after aWh lle Inuliied chatter
OF some one talking rapidly and ncoherently.
Then he heard mans Voice, pleasant neither IN
tone IN the eXpietIves used, and several times
he heard the CLatter-qulck. excited inCOherent.
A. last the broke into string OF profanity.
obIurgatOns The chatter rose angrly, and burst
finally INTO strangllng cultural scream OF anguish.
With a chilly creepiness along his spine and nerves
strained TO the breaking point, Hatch started for
ward Involuntary The stiletto point al his breast
stopped him He glared at the rigid figure OF the
girl and choked back, with an effort, outburst
Q, emotion. HIS utter helplessness overwhelmed
some one is being killed in therel" he protested
desperately between gTlttIng teeth.
Sh-hl" warned the girl
From the next room came the shutting OF feet
again. then soft thump thrice repeated. and faint
gurglng cry. Hatch shivered a little; the girl
rigid as marble
n guess that fixed you" Hatch heard a man say.
There was silence for a minute The feet
moved stealthly again, and the door leading from
the other room INTO the hall opened and closed.
The footsteps moved rapidly along then apparently
pnecaution forgotten, for they clattered down
the steps and we've gone.
Suddenly the girl Strengthened up. " You will
remain here, signor." she said, until am out of
the house2 You viii raise alarm for at least five