The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-09-03
CHAPTER v.

WV CVhFui1iFeiy " NIB "VV3
arm. Now, when a pause
came IN the growing OF the knocker.
she made him hear her voice. and Il
was broken and vibrant with a threat
OF hysteria. "Oh. what can II meanT
II don't know" He laid a hand re-
aBsuringly over that which trembled
on his forearm. ''Tho police possibly"
"Policer she iterated. aghast. what
makes you thing
"a man tried 10 stop me Of the door,"
be answered quickly. II got IN before
ho could. When he tried the knOckeT
q bobby came along and stopped him.
The latter may have been watching
the house since then. TIA be only his
duty 10 keep an eye on II, and heaven
knows we raised a racket, coming
head ffst down those stairsI Now we
are up against e." he added brightly.
But the girl was tugging at his hand.
Gomez she begged breathlessly.
"ComeI There II a wayi Before they
break In
"But this manT KiFkwood hung
back, troubled.
"They-the police-are sure 20 hnd
and care for him"
80 they will" be chucklad. "And
serve him right He'd have choked
me TO denth, with all the good VIII IN
the WorldW
ooh, DO hurryT
Turning, she sped light footed down
the staircase 10 the lower hall, he &C
her elbow. Here the uproar was loud.
est, deep enough 10 drown whatever
sounds might have been made by two
pairs Of flying feet. For all that, they
hed on tiptoe, stealthily, guilty shad.
ows In the night. and at the newell post
swung back into the unbFOken black.
ness which shrOuded tho Businesses
backward Of the dwelling. A sudden
access OF fury on tho part OF the
alarmiat at the knockeF spurred them
on with quaklng hearts. In bali q
dozen strides Kirkwood. guided only
BY instinct and the frou.frou Of the
girls skirts az she ran Invisible before
him, stumbled on the uppermost steps
OF a steep staircase. Only q hand rail-
HANNu Witlt uHd AAhb ~ wv tAaA uA1-
ment ne stopped short. shocked into
caution. From below came a contrite
whisper: I'm 20 sorry I should have
warned you"
lie pulled himself together, Riaring
wildly at nothing. "Tt's al right"
"You're not burt, trulyf Oh, do
come quiCklyW
She waited for him at the bottom Of
the dight-happIly Tor him. for he was
eff az sea.
"Here-your hand-let me guide You.
This darkness IN dreadful"
ne found her hand somehow and
tucked his into Il cOnndingly and not
without an uncertain thrill Of salts.
faction.
"Comei" she painted. "Comei II
they break In
Stihed by apprehension. her voice
failed her.
They went forward. now less impet
uously, for II was very black and the
knocker had fallen still.
"No fear OF that" be remarked after
q time. ''They wouldn't dare break
in."
A huttering whisper answered him.
II don't know, We dare risk moth
ing"
They seemed 20 explore. 20 pene.
traits, acres OF labyrinthlno chambers
and passages. delving deep into the
bowels OF the earth like rabbits bur
rowing IN q warren, bounded by bea'
giles.
Above stairs the hush continued IN.
broken, as n the dumb genius OF the
place had cast q spell Of silence on
tho knOckeF or else, outraged, had
smltton the noisy disturbOr with q
palsy.
The Girl seemed 10 know her way,
Whether guided by familiarity OF by
intuition, she led on without heaita.
tiOn, KlrkwOod blundering In her
wake between confusion o. impression
and daWning dismay, conscious OF but
One tangible thing. 10 which be chung
e. 20 bis hope OF salvation-thOae nrm,
friendly lingers that elasped bic own.
ft was as n they wandered on for
en- hour. Probably from start 70 On.
80 thar nieht kook up three minutes
~ moro. Eventually the girl stop.
nod. releaning his hama BE could hear
heg ayncopoted breathing before him
and aathsred that something was
wrong. ne took . step forward.
avhne A. ffpf