The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-05-20

EAAsH|WkII M BI
Eurled bodily upon him NTH staggering
force aud passion
Then. endeavoring to swing his shout
ders over against the wall. Kirkwood
released his grip on the hand rail and
stumbled on the stairs. throwing bis
antagonist out Of balance. The latter
plunged downward. dragging Kirk.
wood with him. Clawing. kicking.
graphing. they went to the bottom,
jolted violently by each step. but long
before the last was reached Kirkwood's
throat was free.
Throwing himself OF. he got to bis
feet and grasped the railing for sup.
port. then waited, painting. trying to
get his bearings Himself painfully
shaken and bruised. he shrewdly sur
missed that his assafTant had Jared as
III. II not worse. And. In point Of fact,
the man lay with neither move nor
moan. still as death. at the Americans
feet.
And once more silence had folded its
wings over No. Frognall street.
More conscious Of that terrifying.
motionless presence beneath him than
able TO distinguish II by power Of vi.
sion. he endured interminable minutes
Of trembling horror. In a witless dazc.
before he thought Of his matchbox.
Immediately he found II and struck a
light. As the wood caught and the
bright small flame leaped In the pent
air be leaned forward over the body.
breathlessiy dreading what he must
discover.
The man lay quiet. head upon the
floor. legs and hips on the stairs. One
arm had fallen over his face. hiding
the upper half. The hand cleaned
white and delicate as woman's. His
chin was smooth and round. bis lips
thin and petulant Beneath his top
coat evening dress clothed a short and
slender figure. Nothing whatever OF
his appearance suggested the burly
ruffian. the midnight marauder. He
seemed little more than a boy old
enough 10 dress for dinner. In his at
titude there was something pitifully
suggestive Of a beaten child thrown
into a corner.
Conscience smitten and amazed Kirk.
wood stared on until. without warn
Ing. the match nickered and went out.
Then. Strengthening up with an ex.
clamation al once Of annoyance and
concern. be ratified the box. II made
no sound-was empty. In disgust he
swore IL was the devils own luck that
he should run out Of vestas nj n time
50 critical. He could not even say
whether the fellow was dead. uncon.
scious or simply shamming. lie had
little Idea Of his looks. and 10 be able
to identify him might save a deal Of
trouble at some future time since be.
Klrkwood. seemed so little able 20 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 10 that house
Of mystery
But he debated only briefly. His
blood was young. and II was hot II
was quite plain 20 him that be could
not withdraw and retain bis self re.
spect. II the girl was there TO be
found. most assuredly be must fnd
her. The hand lamp that had dazzlcd
him at the head Of the stairs should
be his aid now that be thought OF IT.
and provided he was able TO nnd II.
In the scramble on the stairs be had
lost bis hat. but be remembered that
the yesta's short lived light had dis.
covered this on the floor beyond the
mans body. Carefully stepping across
the latter, be recovered bis headgear
and then. kneeling. listened with an
ear close 10 the fellows face. A softly
regular beat Of breathing treasured
htafs sa"tA taNhhs HS SNukhk Aut Nyu1
beneath the armpits. lifting and drag.
ging II on the staircase. and knelt
again. to feel Of each pocket In the
mans clothing. partly as an obvious
prccaution, TO relieve him Of his ad.
vertised revolver against an untimsly
Weakening. partly to see II he had the
lamp about him.
The search proved fruitiess. Kirk.
wood suspected that the weapon. like
bis own. had existed only In his vic.
Tins ready imagination. Al for the
lamp. IN the act OF rising he struck 4,
with bis foot and picked II up.
II felt like metal tube a couple Of
inches IN diameter, q foot or % IN
length. pnssably heavy. He fumbIed
with II impntiently. However the
dickens" be wondered audibly. docs
the Internal machine work. As Il
happened. the thing worked with dis.
converting abruptncss az bis unframed
fingers fell hapchsnce on the spring
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