Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1917-07-19
The
One Franc Piece
BY Arnold Fredericks
Copyright-The Frank A. Munsey Company

She at once decided to follow the
woman. The latter had nearly reached
Twenty-Sixth Street by this time, but
the heavy satchel hampered her.
Grace ran after her with all the speed
she could command.
The woman clearly. did not like the
brightly lighted avenue, or else she
had some particular destination in
mind, for she turned west on Twenty
Sixth Street and went flying down the
block at a great rate, with Grace at
her heels.
In a few moments The had reached
a house near the middle of the block
an old, tumble.down affair, with a
cheap tailor.shop in the basement, and
furnished-room sign on the casing
of the door.
She fumbled in her purse for her
key, setting the satchel down on the
steps as she did SO. She could clearly
see Grace as the latter came toward
her, and must have realized that
Grace could equally we'll see her, yet
she made no attempt to hide; in fact,
one might have thought that she
wished Grace to see her.
To one of greater experience than
the latter this action on the part of
the woman would doubtless have ap-
peared somewhat suspicious. To
Grace, however, it meant nothing save
| that the woman was having little
trouble in getting out her key and
| opening the door,
1t so happened that Just as Grace
stone steps the woman, picking up
her satchel entered.
Grace, full of a mad recklessness,
| proceeded after her. The woman
might have slammed the door in her
| face, but she did not. Instead she ap-
peared to be greatly frightened, and
at once dashed up the stairs to the
first landing, turned 80 the right, and
entered a door which stood open fac
ing the steps. '.. D.. ..
| Grace followed. The room was al
most dark; only a single gas-jet,
burning very low, relieved its black
| ness. She saw the woman rush to-
ward the rear of the room, and at
| once did likewise. Suddenly she real
lied that she was alone. The woman
had slipped through second door,
and the clicking of the key which fol-
lowed her exit told Grace that the
door had been locked.
Somewhat alarmed at this turn of
affairs, she hurriedly retraced her
steps with the intention of returning
to the hall and continuing the pur-
suit. She realized that she had done
Il very reckless and foolish thing in
entering the house. 1t would have
been far more sensible to have waited
outside until she could have summon
ed aid. - ell
1t was too late to think of that now,
however. She hurried to the first
door, and. was about to enter the hall
when it was quietly closed in her face,
and the clicking of the key told her
that it also had been locked. She was
prisoner.
She Immediately turned on the
light. The room was long and some
what bare, divided in the middle by
means of pair of old and faded vel
vet curtains.
The rear room contained bed and
other bedroom furniture. The front
room was fitted up as sitting-room.
The second door to the hall led from
the bedroom. Grace concluded that
the room had once been two smaller
rooms, each with it's door to the hall
There was a third door, however
which she had not tried. 1t was stu
ated at the end of the bedroom, and
doubtless, Grace thought, gave en-
trance to a closet. She tried 1t, and
found that it, too, was locked.
i Some sounds from the other side
caused her to kneel down and lool
through the keyhole.
The sight that met her eyes was ont
that she remembered for long time
to come.
A fat woman. dressed in a dirt.
pink satin dress, was seated on di
van, her eyes fixed on the door behinc
which Grace knelt. The woman will
the satchel stood before her. The ia
woman was just handling her rol
of bills. "'-Nt
, A number of things became start
, lingly clear to the girl IS she saw th
evil hook in the woman's face Sh,
had wondered how it happened, tha
, the keys in the two doors were SO con
veniently placed on the outside; tina
the woman who had decoyed he
within could lock them at a moment
notice. She rose, her heart beatin
rapidly and lump rising in he
', throat, She knew that she woul,
: now faye'to escape. not indeed to pun
sue Ftht woman she had so foolshl.
followed, but to save herself.
I@bWith; characteristic energy she cas-
about her TO see how her escap
: might be accomplished.,--. co.
p The windows afforded no possibl
chance. They were. she soon discoy
cred, fastened in-sueh a way that the
: could be lowered from the top only
and thai.steo. but few inches, ifo
| purpose OF ventilation. Even had Sab