Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-05
The Lady of the Night Wind

would be; you know the rest of it
also the telephone call--if the necessit!
should arise to make'use of either one.
very we'll, | understand. Is tina
an?"
mo I shall be here all through tht
prepared at any moment to carry Out
the plan ! made for you. Tomorrow
will write you will get my letter
Monday morning. It will contain full
instructions. That is all. Good by.
"But-' the voice of the woman
began in an expostulating tone. but the
click Of the instrument in Belkuap
hands as he hung up cut her off
Instantly Katherine acted upon one
of those impulses which works before
one has opportunity to take n second
thought. She spoke through the trans
mittcr before she realized what she did.
"Please :" she said. "Hold the wire
Wait a moment.
Something that sounded like a gasp
came to her ears through the telephone,
and dead silence followed it. But there
was no warning click of disconnection.
Katherine knew that the woman Of the
melodious voice and who either dis
liked or feared Conrad Bclknap was
still at the telephone listening.
But Katherine did not know what to
say. now that she had secured the
woman's attention. Why had she done
it? Why. with her experience. had
she permitted herself to do such a
manifestly fool thing as that? Tn
doubtedly the woman was creature OF
Belknap's-a tool--or a confederate
certainly she was more or less in tn"
card Sharper's confidence. His manner
Of speaking over the wire had assured
Katherine of that much.
While she hesitated the unknown
woman became either impatient or Curl
ous. She spoke again, in the same
hard. metallic colorless voice i'll which
she had replied TO Belknap. and at once
Katherine's ingenuity came to her aid ;
she determined upon subterfuge.
What do you want? And-who are
vou?" the woman asked and then,
before a reply was possible, she asked
n third question. 1t was: Are you
with-with him? With c. b"
"No. no. no. Katherine replied
ouickly. There is nobody with me.
Please listen to me please. madam
am in terrible trouble. l-l-l--
and she ended by uttcring a perfect
imitation of a gasping sob.
But even so, before the woman at
the opposite end of the wire could
sneak, Katherine continued rapidly. and
brokenly, as if she were in great mental
distress:
"Pleaso tell me how I can call you
on the telephone please, please, please
do, I canot talk now. l dare not
7 am likely to be interrupted at any
moment. But. oh, | do so need a
friend-a woman friend. Won't you
holm me? Oh. something tells me that
YOU VIII. 1t was your voice, think
But. my dear young lady the
voice began.
ooh. YOU mustn't ask questions. now.
You cant imagine what might happen
If should be caught, and then l
would never have another chance to use
the pbone. Please be kind and help me.
I am in terrible trouble and distress.
Let me call you up some time, won
you. please"
There was a hesitating silence at the
other end of the wire. Then:
every we'll. Ganesvoort five four
three two-o; but never before mid
night. and not later than halt hour
after it. And you must understand
ooh. somebody is coming" kath :
crime interrupted. Thank you. On,
Won cant know how much good
She hung up.
Then. with a deep sigh, which was
also accompanied by a smile of salts
fed approval of her own act, she leaned
back in the chair and wrinkled her
brows in thought.
1t had been imperatively essential that
she should not say too much-nor too
little-just then; but the point, the
great point at which she had sought to
arrive. was achieved.
She had succeeded in arresting the
woman's attention and in securing her
sympathy. without arousing her sus-
picion-the woman who, all too evident
ly. was an accomplice of Conrad BeIk-
nan in whatever felonious designs he
might have upon the house of Harvard.
Katherine had made it appear that
she was in great distress. that she was
deeply in need of a woman's aid and
sympathy and. knowing. because of the
short conversation she had overheard,
that the strange woman would be sus-
piciously alert by reason of her pres
ence on the wire, she had succeeded in
conveying the impression that she had
heard nothing.
Also. the woman could have no idea
whence Katherine had spoken. She
would get the impression of crossed
wires, so called. She might, at the next
opportunity, question Belknap about the
circumstances covertly; but he, having
already hung up the receiver and gone,
would have nothing to impart.
Altogether, Katherine felt that she
was to be congratulated upon the
achievement of a point in the battle Of
wits between herself and Belknap, for
already she was convinced that the con
test between them had reached that
point Had he not coolly informed the
woman accomplice of his intention to re-
main at inquest Through the coming
week, at the least?
Oh, yes. Katherine was determined
that she would talk with the voice
again but not too soon no, not too
soon. There must be time to think
and plan in the meanwhile. She would
DOROTHY DARNTT-