Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-02
6he
BLACK
BAG
By Loui. Joseph Vance
fcUNTINUED.1
copyrisA. 1893. by II. Bsbbs-Nenill Co.


And once more silence had folded its
wings over No. 8 Frognall street
More conscious Of that terrifying,
motionless presence beneath him than
able to distinguish 1t by power Of VI
sion. he endured interminable minutes
Of trembling horror, in a witless daze,
before he thought Of his matchbox.
Immediately be found 1t and struck
light AS the wood caught and the
bright small fame leaped in the pent
air he leaned forward over the body.
breathlessly 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. his lips
thin and petulant. Beneath his top
coat evening dress clothed short and
slender figure. Nothing whatever Of
his appearance suggested the burly
ruffian. the midnight marauder. He
seemed little more than boy old
enough to dress for dinner In his at
titude there was something pitifully
suggestive Of a beaten child thrown
into corner.
Conscience smitten and amazed Kirk
wood stared on until. without warn
ing. the match flickered and went out
Then, Strengthening up with an ex-
clamation at once Of annoyance and
concern. he ratified the box. 1t made
no sound-was empty. In disgust he
swore 1t was the devils own luck that
he should run out of vestas at time
so critical. He could not even say
whether the fellow was dead. uncon
scious or simply shamming. He had
little idea of his looks. and to be able
to identify him might save q deal OF
trouble at some future time since he.
Kirkwood. seemed so little able to dis
engage himself from the clutches Of
this insane adventures! And the girl
what had become of her? How could
he continue to search for her. without
lights or guide. through al those silent
rooms. whose walls might inclose II
hundred hidden dangers in that house
of mystery?
But he debated only briefly His
blood was young. and 1t was hot It
was quite plain to him that he could
not withdraw and retain his self le
spect If the girl was there to be
found. most assuredly he must find
her. The hand lamp that had dazzled
him at the head of the stairs should
be his aid now that he thought of it
and provided he was able to find 1t.
In the scramble on the stairs he had
lost his hat. but he remembered that
the vesta's short lived light had dis
covered this On the floor beyond the
mans body Carefully stepping across
the latter. he recovered his headgear
and then, kneeling. listened with all
ear close to the fellows face. A softly
regular beat Of breathing reassurcd
him Half rising. he caught the bod!
beneath the armpitS. lifting and drag
ging It of the staircase. and kncil
again. to feel Of each pocket In the
mans clothing. partly as an obvious
precautlon, to relieve him Of his ad
vertised revolver against an untimely
wakening. partly to see II he had the
lamp about him.
The search proved fruitless. Kirk
wood suspected that the weapon. like
his own. had existed only In his vic.
TINS ready imagination. AS for the
lamp. in the act of rising he struck II
with his foot and picked 1t up
It felt like metal tube couple Of
inches In diameter. foot or SO In
length. passably heavy. He fumbled
with It impatiently. However the
dickens" he wondered audlbly. docs
the internal machine work. AS 1t
happened. the thing worked with dis
concerting abruptness rs his unframed
fingers fell hapchance on the spring
A sudden glare again smote him In
the face, and at the same instant, from
a point not yard away. apparently
an inarticulate cry rang out upon the
stiffness.
Heart In his mouth. he stepped back.
lowering the lamp. which impishly
went out. aud lifting protecting fore
arm
who's thatT he demanded harshly
A strangled sob of terror answered
him. blurred by swift rush Of skirts.
and in a breath his shattered nerves
quieted and glimmer Of common
sense penetrated the murk anger and
fear had bred In his brain. He under
stood and stepped forward. catching
blindly at the darkness with eager
hands.
Miss Calendarw he cried guardedly
Miss Calendar, 1t Is Phillip Kirk.
wood"
There was a second sob. Of another
:aliber than the first. Timid fingers
brushed his. and hand. warm and
fragile. closed upon his own in pas
sion of relief and gratitude.
"Oh, am SO g-glad! 1t was Dor
othy Calendars voice, beyond mistake.
"I-I didn't know what ito think.
When the light struck your face I was
sure It was you. but when called
you answered In a voice SO strange
not like yours at all. Tell me-" she
pleaded, with palpable effort to steady
herself, what has happened"
81 think. perhaps" said Kirkwood
uneasily, again troubled BY bis racing
impulses-"perhaps you can DO thai
better than l."
"Ohy said the voice guilty. Her
fingers trembled ON bis and were gen.
tly withdrawn. II was 30 frightened
she confessed after a little pause. "so
frightened that hardly understand
But you-how did you
~ worried about you" he replied In
tone absurdly apologetic. "somehow
It didn't seem right. It was none Of
nv business, Of course, but l couldn't
help coming back. This fellow, who
ever he is-don't worry, he's uncon
scious-sfipped into the house In
manner that seemed to me suspicious
hardly know why / followed, except
that he left the door an open invita-
ton to interference"
II can't be thankful enough" sht
told him warmly, shat you did inter
fere. You have indeed saved me-
from