Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-15

he was in the doorway-the younger villain.
ntns He dso stood there against the oblong OF
ian: he looked like gigantic. prodtgious
. gp upon hit its hinder legs He stood and md
heavy breathing. Above me I heard also
the woman's desperate fingers at work.
soend TSe fns 10 1
head and shouted. calling for assistance.
stood still in the shadow He gave a sort
OF grunt and plunged forward.
chair dr,, had been beside me where ere.
mountai in Of flesh fell at my my feet Without
cry and struggled there in silence like
I ran up the ladder and. through the
open hatch. pulled myself into free air.
The ladder" she said in whisper.
Pull up the ladder after you! It's loose"
for below in the room there was a sudden
cclatter OF feet. cries and curses in pip
.ns,n. Ehi T., voice The ladder shook
He's coming" said over my shoulder.
He's close upon u.s." I laughed and wait
biackguard's face very near mine. The
snowy. patriarchal beard cleaned white in
the darkness. the clawlike hands groped
worlds of incredible wickedness. I waited
until could have touched the man. but
ladder very gently from its resting-place
and shook it'twice.
The man gave horrtd. shrill scream
Between us we two pulled the ladder
up, laid it along the roof. and covered the
drew a long. deep breath The fog was
thinning fast, and overhead few little
stars were visible. I heard the horn of a
I'VE must make our way along the
we And 1 no way down. eali fcr help
The woman in black stood close before
me in the darkness. her face white blur.
And she put out her hands upon my
81 can help you no more now" said
you to- save yourself and leave mo here.
Go as far as you can along the housetops.
can explain. You couldn't " explain nine E
Won't ont you please leave me and save your
I gave great laugh. looking down
upon her-not for nirth. but for Joy and
pride and i, exultant .. happiness.
on! cried ike Wou eyer cems u in
but I took her by the arm and we began
parapets between the houses we leaped as
If they had been box-borders in garden.
but one OF them was high so that had
take her down on the farther side. She
slipped from that height into my arms.
and for an instant held her so. I know
that both our hearts beat faster.
the last Of the uninterrupted row. Be-
yond it was a plot OF turf enclosed by iron
What now?' said T.
And the woman in black cried:
"Ah now I begin to hamper you! With
"oh, my very dear" said I. will You
%ht to me Of is
able without you?" She made a low sound,
which was a moan and sob together. and
- 20
ness and sort of unwilling Joy.
over the side Of the house, cropping with
it. II only it is strong enough to bear
Once nee more nor sy we stood close and faced each
It is the only way" said I. at means the
said: II am not afraid. We have faced
ger this night. Let do it at once without
to bn the 0s ae ass
err I fancy the same thought came to each
e same instant-that this might be. for one
lps.. After that i stood for little time stin.
easy. AS easily might have
more noise as an one
n the good earth, waved my handkerchief.
agreed; and she n who had had cor come with me
or that her skirt caught here and there:
to me to make an appalling disturbance, and
windows to be thrown open, listened for
oices through every one Of those terrible mo-
sr descent.
ID strand of the ivy gave way in her hold.
silently, never crying out, but she fell only
ana I caught her in my arms.
God!' said I with great breath II think
re over" The gate in the iron palngs was
9 stepped through 1t into the empty street.
can we go?' asked the woman In black, and
re. so that it is away from this place! If
would come! We must walk until we hear
20 set forth up the narrow street that echoed
ootfalls. and round the first corner-round
another still. I remember that we found
inning, and that we must have long
all at once the woman in black stumbled
fell. and leaned against the wall Of a house,
I can't I'm so terribly tired" Breathing
was exhausted, tool slipped my arms about
hung lax and heavy in them-a dead weight.
she had tainted quite away.
there was no sound OF horses hoofs roll
spairing eyes upon the darkness around, and
,on a portal strangely familiar. Gas fared
there were white. half oblterated letters
ndow.
dez-vous des Assassins!
ry of rehef, bent over the woman in black
am 1 a weakling. I bore her down the three
nto that low, ill-smelling room.
waiter limped to meet me. I ordered a
andy and he fetched it, deliberate I'm
ent. I remember that the man walked a
me one out for a cab"' said I. cor go your
ok sharp about it!' The fellow hung sulhily