Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-11-02

came in the growing Of the knocker,
she made him hear her voice. and 1t
was broken and vibrant with threat
of hysteria. "Oh, what can 1t mean"
81 don't know" He laid hand re-
assuringly over that which trembled
on his forearm. ''The police possibly"
"Policer' she iterated. aghast. "What
makes you thing
"a man tried to stop me at the door,"
he answered quickly. Il got in before
he could. When he tried the knocker
q bobby came along and stopped him.
The latter may have been watching
the house since then. It'd be only his
duty to keep an eye on 1t, and heaven
tnows we raised a racket. coming
head first down those stairs! Now we
are up against It," he added brightly.
But the girl was tugging at his hand.
Gomez she begged breathlessly.
Come! There is a way! Before they
break in"-
But this man" Kirkwood hung
back. troubled.
'They-the police-are sure to find
and care for him"
$50 they WILL" he chuckled. "And
serve him right! He'd have choked
me to death. with all the good will in
the world!'
"Oh. do hurry
Turning. she sped light footed down
the staircase to the lower hall. he at
her elbow. Here the uproar was loud
est. deep enough to drown whatever
sounds might have been made by two
pairs Of flying feet For all that, they
fed on tiptoe, stealthily, guilty shad-
ows in the night. and at the newell post
swung back into the unbroken black
ness which shrouded the Businesses
backward Of the dwelling. A sudden
access Of fury on the part Of the
alarmist at the knocker spurred them
on with quaking hearts. In half
dozen strides Kirkwood. guided only
by instinct and the frou-frou Of the
girls skirts as she ran Invisible before
him. stumbled on the uppermost steps
Of steep staircase. Only hand rail
saved him. and that at the last mo-
ment. He stopped short, shocked Into
caution. From below came a contrite
whisper: "I'm SO sorry! should have
warned you"
He pulled himself together. glaring
wildly at nothing. TITS all right"
you're not hurt. truly? Oh. do
rome quicklyw
She waited for him at the bottom Of
the flight-happily for him. for be was
all at sea.
"Here-your hand-let me guide you
This darkness Is dreadful"
He found her hand somehow and
tucked his into 1t confidingly and not
without an uncertain thrill Of salts
faction.
Gomez she painted. "Come! If
they break ln"-
Stiaed by apprehension. her voice
failed her.
They went forward, now less impet-
uously, for 1t was very black and the
knocker had fallen still.
mo fear Of that" he remarked after
q time. "They wouldn't dare break
in"
A fiuttering whisper answered him:
Il don't know. We dare risk moth
Ing"
They seemed to explore. to pene-
trate, acres of labyrinthine chambers
and passages. delving deep into the
bowels of the earth. like rabbits bur.
rowing in a warren. bounded by bea'
giles.
Above stairs the hush continued un'
broken, as II the dumb genius OF the
place had cast a spell Of silence ON
the knocker or else. outraged. had
smitten the noisy disturber with
palsy.
The girl seemed to know her way.
Whether guided by familiarity or Dy
intuition. she led on without hesita'
ton. Kirkwood blundering In her
wake between confusion Of impression
and dawning dismay. conscious OF but
one tangible thing. to which be clung
as to his hope Of salvation-those hrni.
friendly fingers that clnsped his own.
It was as II they wandered ON for
an hour. Probably from start to fill
ish their flight took up three minutes
no more. Eventually the girl STOP
ped, releasing his hand. He could hear
her syncopatcd breathing before him
and gathered that something was
wrong He took a step forward.
'What Is it?"
Her full voice broke out Of the OBJ
scurity startlingly close in his very ear
"The door-the bolts-I can't bulge
them"
"Let me-"
He pressed forward, brushing her
shoulder. She did not draw away, but
willingly yielded place to his hands at
the fastenings, and what had proved
Impossible to her to his strong fingers
was a matter Of comparative ease
Yet, not entirely consciously be was
not quick As he tugged at the bolts
he was poignantiy sensitive to the
subtle warmth Of her at his side. he