Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-16

y y u ~ = y u u
THE BLACK BAG
BY LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE.
| Copwight-By Bobbs, Merrill Co.
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE.
CHAPTER 1v-continued.)


tinue; in point of fact, it had been in
sanity just then to back out, and run
the risk of apprehension at the hands
of that ubiquitous bobby, who (for all
he knew might be lurking not doz-
en- yards distant, watchful for just
such sequel Still, Kirkwood hest
tated with the best of excuses. Reas-
surfing as he had found the sentlnefs
extemporized yarn-proof positive
that the fellow had had no more right
to prohibit a trespass than kirkwood
to commit one-at the same time he
found himself pardonably prey to
emotions Of the utmost CONSERVATION
and alarm If he feared to leave the
house he had no warrant whatever to
assume that he would be permitted to
remain many minutes unframed with
in it's walls of mystery.
The silence of 1t discounted him
beyond measure; it was, in word, I'M
canny.
Before him, as he fingered at the
door, vaguely discolored by wan illu-
mination penetrating dusty and be-
srimed fan-light, broad hall stretch
ed indefinitely towards the rear of the
building, losing. itself in blackness be-
yond the foot of a flight Of stairs.
| Save for few articles of furniture
hall table, an umbrella stand, a tall
dumb clock fanked by high-backed
chairs-it was empty. Other than
Kirkwood's own restrained respiration
not a sound throughout the house adj
vertised it's inhabitation; not board
creaked beneath the pressure of
foot, not a mouse rustled in the wains-
coating or beneath the floors, not a
breath of air stirred signing in the
stiffness.
And yet, a tremendous racket had
! been raised at the front door, within
the sixty seconds past! And yet,
within twenty minutes two persons, at
least, had preceded Kirkwood into the
building! Had they not heard? The
speculation seemed ridiculous. Or had
they heard and, alarmed, been too ef-
fectually hobbled by the coils of their
nefarious designs to dare reveal them
selves, to investigate the cause OF that
thunderous summons? Or were they
perhaps, aware of Kirllwoods Ell
trance, and lying perdu in some dark
corner, to ambush him as he passed!
True that were hardly like the
girl True, on the other hand, 1t were
possible that she had stolen away
while Kirkwood was hanging in II
resolution by the passage to Quadrant
News. Again, the space Of time be
tween Kirkwood's dismissal and his
return had been exceedingly brief
whatever her errand, she could hardly
have fulfilled it and escaped. At thai
moment she might be in the power
and at the mercy of him who had fol
lowed her; providing he were no
friendly And in that case, what tor
ment and what peril might not DC
hers?
Spurred by solicitude, the younf
man put personal apprehens1ons IN MI
pocket and forgot them, cautlousl!
picking his way through the gloom u
the foot of the stairs. There, by IN.
newel-post, he paused Darkness wall
ed him about Overhead the step
5 vanished in we'll of darkness; n
could not even see the ceiling; nj
l ewes ached with futile effort to fatnon
the unknown; his ears rang with ul:re
warded strain of listening. The sllenC
hung inviolate, profound.
Slowly he began to ascend, han
. following the balusters, the other VII
his cane exploring the obscurity betor
him. On the steps, carpet, tho
and heavy, muffled his footballs. II
+ moved noiselessly. Towards the to
V the staircase curved, and presently
foot that CROPPED for higher leVe
n failed to find it. Again he halted
: acutely distrustful.
y Nothing happened.
It He went on, guided by the balu
trade, passing three doors, all opel
n through which the underlined propo
> tions of a drawing-room and boudo
: were barely suggested in ghostl
t, dusk. BY each he paused, LISTENING
e hearing nothing.
His foot struck with deadene
:. thud against the bottom step of til
II second flight, and his pulses fluttere
a wildly for moment Two minutes
is three-he waited in suspense. Fro
above came no sound. He went o.
: as before, save that twice a step yiel
" ed, complaining. to his weight. Towal
: the top the close air, like the darkness
It seemed to weigh more heavily upc
lie his consciousness; little drops of pc
$, spiration started out on his forehea
q; his scalp tingled his mouth was h
= and dry he felt as if stitied.
2 Again the raised foot found no lev
er higher than it's fellows He stoppe
and held his breath, oppressed by
"a conviction that some one was ne
;, him. Confirmation of this came stal
r. lingly-an eerie whisper in the Nigh
so close to him that he fancied
could feel the disturbed air fannil
his face.
of "Is it you, Eccles?"
10 He had no answer ready. The vol
NJ was masculine, if he analysed it &C
b. rectly Dumb and stupid he sto'
poised upon the point of panic.
~ "Eccles, is it you?"
The whisper was both shrill al
III shaky. AS it ceased Kirkwood W
an half blinded by flash of light, STIR
ing him squarely in the eyes. Inv
to UNFAIRLY he shrank back a pace,
the first step from the top. Insta
at taneously the light was eclipsed.
Halt or-or fire!"