Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-27

be sure. she must leave no stone un
turned. Maitland Manor was .closet
to her for ever. because OF last night
But here she was safe for a few shor
hours. and free to make assurance
doubly sure.
There remained the dispatch box.
the black japanned tin box which had
come prepared to break its lock this
time, II need be; Maitlands careless
ness spared her the necessity.
She lifted 1t out of Il lower drawer,
and put 1t in her lap The smallest
key fitted the lock at the first attempt.
The Id came up and
Perhaps II is not altogether discred,
liable that one should temporarily for
get ones compunctions IN the long de
ferred moment Of triumph. The girl
uttered u little cry Of joy.
Crash'-the front door downstairs
had been slammed
She WAS on her feet in q breath.
faint with fear. Yet not so overcome
that she forgot her errand. her sue,
cess. AS she stood up she dropped
without sound. and. opening her
handbag. stuffed something into II.
No time to do moro, dull rumble
OF masculine voices was distinctly,
frightfully audible in the stiffness OF
the house; voices o! men conversinB
together in the inner vestibule. One
laughed. and the laugh seemed to
penetrate her bosom like knife. Then
both strobe across the thing and began
TO ascend, as was clearly told her by
footsteps sounding deadened on the
padded carpet.
Panic-stricken. she turned to the
student lamp and with a quick twill
and upward Jerk OF the chimney catch
ext.ngutshed the flame A reek Of
smoke Immediately began to foul the
close. hot afr; and she knew that il
would betray her. but was helpless to
stop It, Besides. she was caught,
trapped. damned beyond redemption
unless-unless II We're not Maitland.
after all. but one OF the other tenants.
Unexpectedly returned and bound for
another fiat.
Futile hope. Upon the landing by
the door the footsteps ceased; and a
key grated In the wards Of the lock.
Blind with terror. her sole thought
an instructive impulse to hide and SO
avert discovery until the last possible
instant. and on the bare chance Of
something happening TO save her. the
girl caught up her skirts and fed like
a hunted shadow through the alcove.
through the bed chamber. thence down
the hall toward the dining room and
kitchen offices.
The outer door was being opened
ere she had reached the hiding place
she had In mind-the trunk closet
from which. she remembered remark
ing, a window opened upon fire.
escape 1t was barely possible. a
fighting chance.
She closed the door. grateful that
It's latch slipped silently into place.
and fairly fiuns herself upon the win
dow, painfully bruising her soft hands
in vain endeavor to raise the sash. II
Too late. she remembered that she
had forgotten to draw the catch
fatal oversight. A sob Of terror
clicked in her threat. Already foot
steps were hurrying .down the hall; a
line of light frightened underneath
the door: voices. excitedly keyed,
banded question and comment an I'm
mistakable Irish brogue min gtng with
a clear enunciation which she had but
too great reason to remember. The
pair had passed into the next room,
She could hear O'Hagan announcing:
NO wan here. sor"
Then it's the dining room, or the
trunk closet Gene along"
One last. frantic attempt. But the
window catch. rusted with long dis
use. stuck. Painting. sick with fear.
the girl leaped away and crushed her
self into corner. crouching on the
floor behind a heavy box. her dark
cloak drawn up to shield her head
And the door opened.
A flood Of radiance from the re-
lighted student lamp fell athwart the
floor The girl lay close and still. hold
ing her breath.
Ten seconds, perhaps. licked on into
eternity; seconds that were ir them
selves eternities. Then: NO one
here. O'Hsgan."
The door was closed. and through
its panels more family came: Faith.
and the numbering divvle must We
flew tn coop afore ye come n,sor"
The girl tried to rise. to make again
for the window: but IL was as though
her limbs had turned to water; there
was no strength In her: and the black
ness swan visibly before her eyes. ra-
dating away in vhirling. streaky cir
cles.
Even such resolution and strong vii.
rs was hers could not prevail against
that uumbinz. deafhly exhaustion. Her