The Yale expositor., 1917-10-11
y UR auto had gone dead after


brook necessary delay, but 1t was his
characteristic never to sit placldly by
with folded hands. He had estimated
stOppage OF some continuance, had
leaped from the vehicle, and asked for
my company with a brief glance.
1t was a quaint part of the great
city, remembered by old settlers only.
Once the narrow winding street, eX-
tending only two blocks, had been res
idential. Business had reached and
swung over and fallen into the des-
uetude of rag warehouses and storage
cellars. Some of the riclety old-fash-
toned structures had gone to decay
and disuse. We strolled along the
stone walk, cracked and irregular
while my friend descanted on the gild-
Ell past of those old tottering man
sions.
1t was sudden, startling, tragic-the
cry, the call, the appeal that abruptly
rang out upon that dull afternoon air.
The near hum OF business activity did
not soften or dash it out. Marvel came
TO a sharp halt and followed his eX-
LhOSt htcn eyes VI MS SlNc
one comprehensive sweep of what lay
opposite us. Mine followed the indi-
cation of his own, roved across the
gray house fronts and rested on the
third story, where every sash was
boarded up or out of place.
For the love of heaven-Oh, some
one come into the hOuse!"
a. -
weird, thrilling accents. Time, place
and the speaker, fair young girl, har-
mOnized with a suggestion of the in
tense and dramatic. She was framed
wildly against the dark background
of the vacant room, one hand support
ing her against the rotting window
frame. She wavered as though she
would fall over the low reaching case
ment into the street. Her face was
white as marble, her eyes stricken with
some fearful emotion of horror or eX-
element. She saw us, and her cry
was meant for us.
l noted ReSilius Marvel incline that
shrewd face of his as though striving
to peer into u mystery, his keen pro-
ASSolOlldl llslAlAClS at OlCe dIOuStu. ne
was as a man before whom the end
of puzzle mad been cast, with a chal-
lenge for expert calculation. His fea-
lures instantly assumed a certain
grimness, as if he discerned menace
in the situation, urgency, perchance
peril.
Come" he said simply, quickly, and
gfn 20 e1. l,.N a
shrek, ringing, far-echoing, curdling
half halted him. Together we noted
sharp turn to the episode, plotting
out what had materialized so sudden
iy. From behind the wavering girlish
form a pair of arms extended. They
were sinuous, though stalwart, and
full silken vestments enclosed them
They encirCled the shrieking girl and
drew her back, one of them muffiing
her face in the folds of a fleecy, bill
lowy scarf that, with the garb of the
new actor in the momentary drama
gave an oriental tinge to the situation
There was darkness then where
there had been animation. Travesty
drama or tragedy, the curtain was
what Marvel would do next. His sure
definite leap over the cobblestones en-
hghtened me. lie reached the OppO
site pavement, made a rush, and as hi,
powerful body came like a batterinl
ram against the closed door guasdini
the old wreck OF a rookery, ii flew
from its hinges like a barrier of straw
The dull afternoon light of day pen
etrated a long passageway feebly, ant
beyond was gloom. There was a fiasl
as we reached Il shaking, uncertain
stairway. My friend had brought on
his portable electric tube. l followed
it and himself, guided by the shifting
focus point that showed splintere,
treads fast rotting away. We reached
landing. A fra.l door guarded thu
second flight. 1t was unlocked, how
ever, and yielded to a touch. At TIT
top of the stairway we came into |
large room. 1t held the open window
space at which the girl, now so mys
teriously vanished, had appeared Il
our vision for the space of few mo
ments. AS Marvel passed 1 saw hin
stOOp. 1t was To pick up crumple'
piece of paper. Then, his eyes fixe'
on the floor, he traced a track In tn
accumulated dust of years, showing
where trailing garments had made
broad plain mark.
There was an open door at the en-,
Of the long room. 1t led out upon
platform which spanned an alley
Leading froa the platform was a rick
ETY. fight of narrow stairs. AS W
glanced over the railing we saw fC
male form just leaping from the lowe
step. AS she turned to run down tn
alley towards the next street sh
turned slightly.
''The same girl" observed Marve
tremendously.
'Yes," / assented, noting that he
hand was held closely across her ches
and that she tOttered as she ran, ev