Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1909-07-10

Then. strengthening up with an ex-
clumntion at once Of annoyance and
concern. he ratified the box. II made
no sound-was empty, In disgust he
swurc II was the devils own luck that
he should run out of vestas at n time
so critical He could not even say
whether the follow was dead. uncon.
sCious or simply shamming. lie had
little idea Of his looks. and to be able
10 Identify him might save deal Of
trouble ut some future time since he.
Klrkwood. seemed so little able to dis.
engage himself from the clutches Of
this insane adventure! And the girl
what had become Of herr How could
he continue to search for her. without
lights or guide. through all those silent
rooms. whose walls might inclose a
hundred hidden dangers In that house
OF mystery
But he debated only briefly His
blood was young and II was hot. II
was quite plain 10 him that he could
not withdraw and retain his self tie.
spcCt. II the girl was there to he
fousd. most assuredly he must find
her The hand lamp that had duzzled
him Mt the head OF the stairs should
be his aid now that he thought of it
and provided he was able to lind It.
In the scramble ON the stairs he had
los: his hat but he remembered that
the vcSta's short lived light had dis
covered this on the door beyond the
mans body. Carefully stepping across
the latter, he recovered his headgear
and then, kneeling. listened with an
ear close to the fellows face. A softly
regular beat of breathing reassured
him. Half rising. he caught the body
beneath the armpItS. lifting and drag
ging II or the staircase. and knclt
again. 10 feel OF each pocket In the
mans clothing. partly as an obvious
prccaution. to relieve him Of his I'D
vertised revolver against an untimely
Weakening. partly to see II he had the
lamp about him.
The search proved fruitlcss. Kirk.
wood suspected that the weapon. like
his own. had existed only In his Vie
Tins ready Imagination. As for the
lamp. In the act Of rising he struck It
with his foot and picked It up.
II felt like a metal tube couple OF
Inches In diameter. foot or so In
length. passnbIy heavy. lie fumbed
with II impatiently. However the
dickens" he wondered audibly. does
the Internal machine work." As II
happened, the thing worked with dis
concerning abruptness as his unframed
fingers fell hapchnnce ON the spring.
4 sudden glare again smote him In
the face, and at the same instant. from
point not n yard away, apparently.
m lnnrticulate cry rang out upon the
stiffness.
Heart In his mouth. he stepped back,
lowering the lamp. which impishly
went out and lifting n protecting fore
arm
WHO'S thntf" he demanded harshly,
s,ranglcd sob OF terror answered
him. blurred by swift rush Of skirts,
and In breath his shattered nerves
quleted and glimmer OF common
sense penetrated the murk anger and
fear had bred In his brain. lie under
stood and stepped forward. catching
bllrdly Mt the darkness with eager
I hands.
Miss Calendar" he cried guardedly.
Miss Calendar, It Is Phillip Kirk
wood"
There was n second sob. Of another
calIher than the first. Timld fingers
brushed his, aud hand. warm and
fragile, closed upon his own In pas
sion OF relief and gratitude.
"Oh. ] am so g.clad" II was Dor.
othy Calendars voice, beyond mistake.
II didn't know what tito t.think.
When the light struck your face | waa
sure It was you. but when called
y"u answered In n voice so strange
not Ike yours at all, Tel me-" sho
pleaded, with paipable effort TO steady
herself, what has happened;"
Il think, perhaps" said Klrkwood
uncasily, again troubled by his racing
perhaps you con do that
better than l."
OH said the voice suiltIIy. Her
fingers tremblrd on bis and we're gen.
tly withdrawn. II was 80 frightened"
she confessed after Il little Iause. 80
frightened that ! huidly understand.
But u--huw did you
e! worried about you" he replied IN
II tone absurdly Apologize "sumchuw
It didn't seem right. II was none Of
my business, Of course. but couldn't
help coming back. This fellow, who
ever he ls--dont worry. he's uncon.
scious-slippcd into the house IN II
manncf that seemed to me suspicious.
! hardly know why followed, except
that he left the door an open invita-.
ton (. Interference"
Il can't be thankful enough" she
told him warmly, that you did inter.
fcre. You have indeed saved me
from
"Ycsf"
Il don't know what. II | knew the
man
you don't know hIm?"
IL can't even guess, The light
She unuSpl InuulrInrlv EIrkvool