The Marshall republican., 1913-03-07
n S'aze Of an Electric Light Was
Flashed In My Eyes.

Flashed In My Eyes.
moving below. strained my eyes a.
see, my heart beating wildly. Then I
knew IL was-Winthropl lie moved
across the lawn. I.saw him stop.
raise his arm and rub thc back OF hig
head. couldn't be mistaken in that
gesture. think he turned back once.
then the dim outline OF his figure re-
treated. and vas lost in the direction
OF the beach.
While | stood there wondering. my
brain in a middle of conjecture. star
ms after Winthrop. something else
moved on the lawn belowl / looked.
straining my eyes through the pale
dawn. 4 man. yes; that much was
obvious. Vaguely the figure seemed
familiar. and suddenly ii came to me
Thomas, tho footmanl But not the
rigid. livoricd servant now; a quick.
moving, alert. crouching, creeping
Thomas. lie darted across the lawn
and Vanished in the direction Win.
throp had gone.
l vas getting back into bed. too be.
wildered for connected thought. when
| heard a sharp, quick noise like the
falling OF a hammer or some heavy
object on tho floor. The sound seem.
cd TO come from overhead. There
vas no ono overhead. unless some one
was in the gallery / had no bust
ness investigating, but / did. A sud
den thought pushed forward I'm my
now widc.awake mind that 10 had
acted strangely about the gallery.
I unlocked my door carefully. Ma.
tales light was out. No doubt she
had decided TO so 20 sleep. | stood
there beside my door for perhaps two
minutes, perhaps tent seemed to be
Il c~entury-and finally my waiting was
rewarded. The sound came again lust
overhead. but this time mufied. and /
was sure I heard footsteps. II never
once occurred 10 me that I was 20.
ing into danger when | went toward
tho steps leading from the wing 20
the floor above. ! wanted to know
who was IN the gallery ut that time
OF the night--or morning.
| reached the top of tho steps, feel.
ing my way carefully. The corridors
were quito dark. for the shades were
drawn, keeping out what little light
there was. but ] knew she steps TO
the gallery were Just to my right. BE
io,o ! turned TO ascend that second
fight felt there was some one near
me. | put out my hand, but drew IL
back quickly. ! had not touched any.
thing. but | was scared blue. My
fright must have made me lose my
bearings for tho moment.
My hand came In contact with n
door, knew Il was the card.room
door. | pushed Il open and went IN
while I tried TO control my wildly beat.
Ing heart and my stampeding courage.
Once I thought OF switching on the
light, but III was afraid OF the light.
II occurred TO mo that | vas In n ".
diculous position. The dukes suite
was Just beyond. II he should hear
me. and he, too, should decide TO In.
yestignte-
/ knew II thing. that ! was going
back TO my room instantly and let the
noise In the gallery take care Of Il.
self.
When | moved. my foot came IN
contact with something. Again my alb.
surd fright until ! had assured my.
self that whatever 80 was II was not
going 10 harm me. / stopped au,
picked Il M. II was sofia cloth
bag. \ thought come Ike a lightuln
dash: a bgs-wi,h jewels! clutchoa
II 10 my breast and ierked at the door.
When I turned In the direction OF the
wing I felt. | knew. some one again
was In the hail. / couldn't ind The
stairs to.thc wingl Whoever was tlere
near me- mcVCd'
In that instant the blaze Of an cleo.
tric Hight was flashed straight into my
eyes.
"Ilss Codmnn'" | heard In a tone
Of uitc. surprise: ! had no rego!lcs.
lion Of ever having heard the voice
before.
l screamed. and turning, rushed
blindly In the direction, as | thought,
OF the wing. My feet touched--space!
] plunged forward headlong and went
down, down, down into darkness.
(To BE Continuedl