The diamond drill., 1919-05-24
Perhaps she was worse than ! was
even now imaginingl


away horse.
had turned. up Fifth avenue and
had reached Twelfth or Thirteenth
street when thought ! heard the pat
ter OF the Eskimo dogs feet behind
me- I spun around, startled, but there
was only the long stretch OF pavement.
! had resumed my course when was
sure | heard the pattering again. And
again saw nothing.
A moment later was hurrylng back
toward the apartment house. My
nerves had suddenly become unstrung
felt sure now that some imminent
danger was threatening Jacqueline.
could not bear the suspense OF walt
ing till morning.
And as | ran | thought heard the
patter Of the dogs feet pacing mine.
was rounding the corner OF Tenth
street now. and again the folly OF my
behavior struck home 10 me. ! stopped
and tried 10 think. Was 1t some in
stinct that vTs taking me back. or was
Il the remembrance OF Jacquellne's
beauty? Was II not the desire 10 see
her, 70 ask her about the ring?
had actually swung around when
] heard the ghostly patter Of the feet
again close at my side. | made my
decision IN that instant and hurried
swiftly on my course back toward the
apartment house.
When ali last / found my door my
hands were trembling 50 that / could
hardly III the key into the lock.
| bounded up the stairs. But on the
top story had to pause to get my
breath, and then dared not enter /
listened outside. There was no sound
from within.
The two rooms that occupied were
separated only by q curtain, which fell
short a foot from the floor and was
slung on a wooden pole disclosing two
feet between the top Of II and the
ceiling. The rooms were thus actually
one, and even that might have been
called small. for the bed In The rear
room was not dozen PAGES from the
door.
listened for the breathing of the
sleeping girl. II ! could hear her
breathe, thought would 20 quietly
away and find a hotel IN which 10
sleep. listened minute after minute.
but could not hear sound,
At last put My mouth to the key
hole and spoke. 10 her. "Jacqueline,"
I called. There~w0s no answer.
Then a little louder "Jacquellne p
And Then quite loudly: "Jacque-
liner
Then, out Of the silence, hnmmering
ON my cardrums burst the loud tick.
ing Of the little alarm clock that
had left ON the mantel Of the bedroom.
I heard that. and II must have been
ticking minutes before the sound
reached me perhaps IL | waited a
little longer should hear her breath
ing.
/ took the Key Of the apartment
from my pocket at last and fitted IT
nolselessly into the lock. | stood
there, trembling and irresolute. /
dared not turn the key.
Once more / ventured:
"JacQuellnel Jacqueinel"
There was not the smallest answer
Ing stir within. And so. with shaking
fingers, | turned the key.
The room was completely dark, ex-
cept for a little patch of light high up
on the bedroom wall, which came
through the hole the workmen had
made when they began demolishIng
the building. | hesitated n moment,
then ] drew a match from my pocket
and rubbed It softly into flame
against my trousers leg.
reached up TO the gas above the
table, turned II on and lt the incan
descent mantle, lowering the light In.
mediately. But even then there was
no sound
The oppressive stiffness was not
that Of solitude. She must be awake;
she must be listening In terror.
went toward the curtains ana
when spoke | heard the words come
through my lips IN a voice that
could not recognize as mine.
"Jacquelncl" whispered. "it is
Paul, your friend Are you safe.
Jacquelinef"
Now I'saw under the curtains, what
looked like the body Of a very smnIl
animal II might have been n woolly
dog or O black lambkin. and Il was
lying perfectly stlll
pulled aside the curtains and stood
between thcm, and the scene stamped
itself upon MY brain az clear MS q pho.
tographic print forever
The woolly beast was the fur cap Of
d dead man who lay across the noor
of the lttle room. There was a tiny
hole hi his breast over The heart, from
which a little blood Md flowed. The
wound h8d nierced the heart and
death had evidently been instantane.
oua.
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Notice.