Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-06-25

place was run OF TprT-Tl-Ie rTr-Ss T1uv
made us feel the weakness of our po-
sition. Some such instinct made Nc
knight suggest division.
I'VE look like an invading army"
he said IF she's here alone, we viii
startle her into a spasm. One of us
could take look around and"
What was that? Didn't you hear
sOmething?"
The sound. whatever IL had been,
was not repeated We went awkward
ly out into the hall. very uncomfort-
able. all Of US. and Tipped a coin. The
choice fell on me. which was right
enough, for the affair was mine, pri-
marily
Wait just inside the door" I di-
rected. and II Sullivan comes. or
anybody that answers his description.
grab him without ceremony and ask
him questions afterwards"
The apartment, save in the hallway,
was unlighted. BY one OF those freaks
of arrangement possible only in the
modern fat. found the kitchen first.
and was struck a smart and unex-
pected blow by a swinging door. I
carried a handful of matches. and by
the time 7 had passed through a but
ler's pantry and a refrigerator room
was completely lost in the darkness.
Until then the situation had been
merely uncomfortable; suddenly II be
came grisly. From somewhere near
came a long-sustained grOan. followed
almost instantly by the crash OF some
thing-glass or china-on the floor
struck a fresh match. and found
myself in a narrow rear hallway Be
hind me was the door by which I must
have come. with a keen desire to get
back TO the place I had started from,
I opened the door and attempted 20
cross the room. I thought I had kept
my sense OF direction but I crashed
without warning into what. from the
resulting jangle. was the dining table.
probably laid for dinner. I cursed my
stupidity in getting into such a sit
uation. and 7 cursed my nerves for
making my hand shake when 1 tried
TO strike a match. The groan had not
been repeated
braced myself against the table
and struck the match sharply against
the sole Of my shoe. u nickered
family and went out. And then. with
out the slightest warning. another dish
went on the table IL fell with a
thousand splinterings; the very air
seemed broken into crashing waves
of sound. 7 stood still. braced against
the table. holding the red end OF the
dying match and listened had not
long to wait; the groan came again,
and 7 recognized it, the cry Of a dog
in straits. I breathcd again.
Come. old fellow" I said. Come
on. old man. Let's have a look at
you"
! could hear the thud OF his tail on
the floor but he did not move. He
! compsnionable in the presence Of a
dog. and ! fancicd this dog in trouble
Slowly began 20 work my way
around the table toward him.
Good boy" I said. as he whlmpered
Wen find the light. which ought "a
be somewhere or other around here
/ and then"
I stumbled over something. and
| drew back my foot almost instantly
! Did I step on you. old man ! eX
| claimed. and bent 20 pat him. ! re
| member STRENGTHENING suddenly and
hearing the dog pad softly toward
/ me around the table. ] recall even
/ that I had put the matches down and
/ could not ind them. Then, with q
bursting horror OF the room and It's
| contents. OF the gibbering darl
around me. l turned and made for the
door by which ] had entered.
| could not find il. felt along IN,
endless wainsooting. past miles O.