The newspaper., 1909-03-19


cruelty. 81 think we will go up. thank
YOU. If Bannerman's not in, I can
phone him. I've a pass-key."
The watchman appeared satisfied;
Maitlands social standing, was guar
anty enough.
''All right. sir. Step in"
The girl made one final effort to
hang back. Anisty's brows blackened.
by Cod" he told her in whisper.
IF you dare -
And somehow she found herself at
his side in the steel cage, the gates
clang ringing loud in her ears. The
motion of the car, shooting upwards
with rapidly increasing speed. made
her slightly giddy. Despite Anisty's
supporting arm she reeled back
against the wall of the cage. closing
her eyes. The man observed this with
covert satisfaction.
AS the speed decreased she began
to feel slightly stronger: and again
opened her eyes. The floor numbers.
black upon white ground. were
steadily slipping down; the first she
recognized being 10. The pace was
sensibly decreased. Then with a
slight jar the elevator stopped at %.
"Yous know the way"
Perfectly" replied Anisty. Two
flights up-in the tower"
Right. When yous wants me.
ring"
The car dropped like a plummet.
leaving them in darkness-or rather
in a thick gloom but slightly mod
Grated by the moonlight streaming in
at windows at either end of the cor
ridor. Anisty gripped the girl more
roughly.
Now. my lady, No shennanigan,"
A futile. superfuous reminder. Tenn
porarily at least she was become as
wax in his hands. So complex had
been the days emotions. so severe her
nervous tension. so heavy the tax
uron her stamina. that she had lapsed
Into n state OF subjective conscious
ness. in which she responded without
purpose almost dreamily to the sug-
gesiions OF the stronger will.
YEARLY she stumbled up the two
brief flights of stairs leading to the
towor-like cupola of the sky-scraper:
two floors superimposed upon the roof
with scant excuse save that OF giving
the building the distinction Of being
the loftiest In that section of the city
certainly not to lend any finishing
touch of architectural beauty to the
edifice.
On the top landing a door confront
ed them. its glass panel shining dlmly
in the darkness. Anisty paused. un-
a. H.. IL -
one side and away from the head Of
the staircase: and here fumbled In a
pocket. presently producing a jingling
bunch OF keys. For n moment or two
she heard him working at the lock
and muttering In an undertone-prob-
ably swearing-and then. with a click.
the door swung open.
The man thrust hand inside
touched an electric switch. flooding
the room with light. and motioned the
girl to enter. She obeyed passively.
thoroughly subjugated. and found her
self In a large and well-furnished Of
fice. apparently the outer Of two
rooms. The glare OF electric light at
first partly blinded her; and she
halted instinctively q few steps from
the door. waiting for her eyes to be-
come accustomed to the change.
Behind her the door closed softly:
and there followed n thud as a bolt
was shot. An instant later Anisty
caught her by the arm and. roughly
now and without wasting speech. hur-
ried her into the next room. Then.
releasing her. he turned up the lights
and, passing to the windows. threw
two or three OF them wide: for the
air In the room was stale and ,ifeless.
"And now" said the criminal in a
tone Of satisfaction. nov We can talk
business. my dear
He removed his overcoaf and hat.
throwing them over the back OF n con-
venient chair. drew his fingers
thoughtfully across his chin. and.
standing at little distance. regarded
the girl with a shadow Of a saturnine
smile softening the hard line OF his
lips.
She stood where he had left her. as
II volition was no longer hers. Her
arms hung slack at her sides and she
was swaying trifie. her face vacant.
eyes blank; very near the breaking
down point.
The man was not without percep-
ton; and recognized her state-one
in which. he felt assured. he could get
very little out of her. She must be
strengthened and revived before she