The Washington times., 1909-07-18

though. Here was offered CnanCe 10
see what was doing, and possibly to
escape menaCing dangers. He would
not have TO stumble blindly about in
the dark with his burden uncertain
every second whether the next might
not find a kniteblade plunged between
his shoulders.
He jerked the handful of matches
from the receptacle, and scratching
them along the side of the box lifted
his improvised torch high in the air.
lgnitlns with a crackle, it biazed
out shedding sudden Tuddy glare
athWart the enVelOping blaCkneSs.
Long as IL takes to tell all this, IN
reality scarcely ten seconds had elapsed
since the lights went out: and the scene
was much the same.
The table-filled room with its bizarre
decorations had not changed its desert
ed. empty appearance. The fat prOpTle-
tor still sat in his cashiers cage just
outside. The impressive walters stood
as though turned to stone e&actly Nle I,
ne had seen them last Uncle Ferdi-
nand. his arms thrust out before him,
was still struggling toward the door.
The only difference that Tom could
observe In his first swift glance was
the wreckase Of a table against which
he had hung his stool with such i'm
pulsiVe force, evidently missing the
target at which he had aimed.
Yes, he had plainly missed; the
Chinaman with the dagger must have
MS
part. and lodged lithely to one side,
Yet. even SO, what had become CT
the fellow? There had been no time
to get out Of the place, but he was no
longer TO be seen.
Neither as Moore suddenly became
conscious, was the other girl. What,
too, had become of her?
The abrupt disappearance Of these
two was certainly a startling discovery.
Stil, Tom had no time to puzzle over
such secondary details. The main issue
was to get SiilHcent out as quickly as
possible, and then, arousing the police
to action, leave the rest OF the affair
to them.
A matter of quarter seconds. all Of
this, for the human mind works fast
when destiny hangs between the ticks
of the clock.
As an actual fact Tom lifted high his
blazing handful OF matches, east one
swift look around the room, then
glanced down at his still struggling
companion, intending 70 speak rather
she could see who he was, she would
cease her violent resistance and &C
company him without fear.
But with that glance he started back
as though he had received a blow. With
an exclamation of dlsmay he inv0l-
unfairly released his gripping hold.
IL was not Mlllicent whom he had
seized but her companion.
Standing dazed, beWildered, appalled,
at his mistake, a squirt of flame from
the burning matches, scorched his
fingers, and before he thought he threw
them 30 the floor, plunging the room
once more into ebOn blackuess.
Gritting his teeth over this mischance.
he turned huTriedly TO d table behind
him to get another match box He
must have a light to locate the where
abOuts Of Millicent and effect a safe
retreat for her and the other girl,
although IL must be confessed his chival-
rOus instincts ia this latter quarter
were little dulled by her determined
resistance and the smarting Of his face
from her scratches.
But before his eagerly searching
fingers could ind what he wanted and
put his plan into execution Their. came
a crackle and flash Of light from one
side The girl he had just released, fol-