Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-09
CHAPTER XIII.
In the Dead of NIGHT

The window which opened from the
| balcony into Sadie's room was an old
fashioned one, consisting of two large
| sashes, each having number of COM
paratively small panes. Sadie had left the
top sash open and drawn the blind up
to the top, as if TO admit the air more
| freely.
| This was all purposely done to make the
entrance into the room easy. Except at
| need she did not wish Eva to be dis
turbed, and for this reason the door Of
| communication, near to which stood the
| head of the bed. was nearly closed.
The man on the balcony remained per-
| fectly still for some moments, peering
| into the room. Then glance showed him
| that the window was open, and he stoop-
| ed to raise the lower sash.
Inch by inch stealthly and almost
| noselessly, he worked, pausing every
| time the window creaked, and only pro-
ceeding when he had satisfied himself
| that the sound had not been heard and
no alarm caused. The task occupied some
minutes. and when it was completed and
he crouched to enter the room Sadie
rustled her dress and breathed the heavy
| sign of sleeper.
On the instant the man stopped just
| where he crouched. and a silence like
| the stiffness of death followed Then
| with another and fainter sigh she began
to breathe regularly, letting the sound
| die away gradually into silence again.
The trick was successful. and few
moments later he began to move slowly
| across the floor toward the bed, creep
| ing on hands and knees.
| When two or three feet from the bed
! he stopped, took something from his
| pocket stole noiseesSly into the circle of
dim light cast by the night light and
| examined it.
Sadie saw il plainly. 1t was hypo-
| dermic syringe. And for that instant
she saw his face. 1t was Gilbert Dorri-
son. surely enough.
! The pause was not more than a few sec
| onds, half a minute at most and then
| lie crept 10 the side of the bed. She
| could hear his breathing now. and she
| was conscious of a weird curiosity as to
| how he would proceed with his grim task
the cords. The reason was obvious. Ii
he could silence Sadie they We're of no
| account. Even If he did not secure then
| they were useless evidence without
her testimony. He deemed it safer to
waste no time in any search, but to make
sure of her silence. SO she read his pur-
| pose.
| AS she had foreseen his object was not
| robbery. but murder.
| How he meant 70 accomplish it was also
| plain.
| He stood up by the bed. and, holding
| the deadly little syringe in his right hand
| he made ready to clasp his left hand
across her mouth. and so prevent any
| outcry.
But the position of the sleeper's head
| appeared to perplex him. 1t was COW
cred by the tansle of the hair. and he
| began gently and deity to draw it aside.
| Sadie chose that moment to act.
| She moved from her hiding place.
switched on the light and covered him
| with the revolver.
"A single sound or movement other
than as l tell you and l shall fire. she
| said in a low tone, tense and threatening.
He reeled back and gazed at her. open
| mouthed and speechless
! Il was expecting Won. and. as you see,
am prepared. Stand back against the wall
there" and she pointed across the room.
| For an instant the thought Of putting
! all tn the hazard of a struggle with her
| crossed his mind His life was in her
! hands in any case. and her silence was all
| IN all to him. He hesitated and set his
| foot for spring.
| You'd better not she said, calmly.
| reading his purpose and keeping her eyes
on his Il know how to use this. Go