The Detroit times., 1912-07-01
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You could say forced you to help
| me-" | said.
She had turned and was already
moving away. and followed her slow
ly. gathering myself together Tor Tue
work before me. and mecnanlcany
picking my way through the cellar, a.
most forgetting the existence OF my
guide. But al the foot OF the steep
basement stairs she paused, holding
the candle so that her face was IN
the shadow.
rYou see. the truth II" she said
abruptly. that THAT don't want
to 20 home.
Don't want to 90 home" re-
peated.
No" she said, Il want to stay here
and watch what happens. l won't be
In your way"
And. as II the matter were settled.
she tripped on ahead OF me up the
stairs.
AT the top i paused and listertd.
Mrs. Olsen's screams had stopped
and. In Its deathly silence, the house
seemed TO have an even more potent
malignity. l knew, certainly, that NJ
least three people were listening TOT
me, three people whose livelihood
MAS threatening, whose very personal
liberty was imperiled the moment
(, was outside OF the place. and. from
sheer necessity, they We're bound 10
do me harm, Any corner turned
was pregnant with evil possibility. My
fear was, OF course, that should be
lak hoh 81.
hiding-place where my adversaries
could Turk unseen. So that, once IN
1.-The hall, paused and listened with
all my ears; for now | was frankly
afraid, afraid OF an attack which
could not guard against, and which
might leave Nancy alone and unpro-
tected, at the mercy OF danger
knew only too well. With all my heart
II wished I had come TO the place with
three or four policemen at my heels.
armed and clothed with the majesty OF
the law. But although this was the
normal and rational thing to have
done. had put II aside after q little
consideration; for l was pretty sure
THAT such q place as this must have
an understanding with the town Az
liberties, and that, even II persuaded
them to give me any assistance,
must state pretty clearly my errand.
and so, having given warning, would
have found Nancy gone and every
thing apparently quite regular. And
Nancy's extremity was too great 70
risk awaiting the unavoidable delays
OF any possible interference by the
state.
What are you going to do nowT
Whispered the little mercenary.
II suppose the only thing can do,
Ii whispered back. lis TO make q room
to room search OF the place"
And get shot at the first corner?'
she asked, as II she read my uneasi
ness.
| "Ill have to chance that" I replied
this isn't getting us anywhere, al
Though IT : II an immense relief to
know he lied about the dark room"
She looked up at me very seriously
then smiled. snuffed out the candle
and put II carefully into q corner. II
seemed, at frst, as II we were In the
dark. Then, as my eyes grew accus
toned TO the change. ! saw that some
faint glimmer from far down the hal
made the walls about us dimly visible
In glanced about for the girl beside
me, and to my surprise saw her al
ready tiptoeing ahead. stole after
her swiftly and caught her by the
: arm
What are you doing?" I asked
angrily. IF let you stay, you must
come behind. Don't you realize they
might kill your
II don't think So" she whispered;
"and, you see, II 10 the only way. II
isn't me they want, It's you, and II I
go ahead. at least they can't surprise
you. Please, please let me-" she went
on, with little catch at her breath,
as I still held out. II have never done
anything for anybody before. | have
never been OF any real use. I'm not
going to run much risk now; and Il
is worth It for--for the young lady,
isn't it?"
Yes" ! said. simply. 1T Is worth
It." and I let her 90 again.
She gave little sigh that was half
a laugh, and stole forward along the
hall, pausing every once In a while to
listen. At the transverse hall she did
not turn to the stairs as I had expect.
ed; but, when she had made sure II
was empty, she crossed II and kept on
straight for the front door and the
ONCE. hesitated for q second. and
then tiptoed after her; for, after all,