Evening star., 1919-05-04


and painting the figure at the bedside
turned and looked at me- The first
thing that struck me about this man
was that his face showed more worry
and abstraction than it showed sur
prise. And the next thing that struck
me was that ii was wilkins himself
where's Doyle"" ! weakly demand
ed for was still thinking, I suppose,
of the man with the revolver in the
next room. Yet ! spoke in whisper.
as though the sound of my voice might
waken the sleeper on the bed
"Telephoning for Sloan" wilkins
told me, getting between me and the
bed
whats wrong" I whispered.
You'd better come outside" Will
kins said to me. very quietly, as he
took me by the elbow and started to
steer me toward the outer door
whats happened" | demanded. in
a voice little shrin from nervousness
That old guy in there's been kill
ed. He said it with a frown OF what
seemed to be apprehension, But he
said it very quietly
"Killed." I echoed "How" When?"
"Chloroformed"
That was all waited for. I went
straight back to the bed The smell of
the anesthetic still hung thin above
IT, l reached out a hand and touched
the blue-gray forehead on the pillow
I IL clt l,, Il
under the bed covers. The body that
! felt there was marble cold: 1t was
true. Eleakim Crrosset was dead
stone dead. And l was the woman
who had killed him.
Get me out OF here" 7 slavered
We were almost down to the street
door when the sudden glare of a
hashlight leaped up against my eyes
and almost blinded me-
"Is it all right, Wilkins?" voice
asked out OF the hiackness behind the
flash I recognized Doyle's voice
Where's Sloan?" asked wilkins.
Coming" was the others preoccu-
pied retort. HE says he can get her
down to the office
There was a moment of silence The
flash went out and left everything
dark
We'll, he wants to get her quick"
I heard the voice Of wilkins saw
Wait" I called out to the two fig
ures beside me. "There's man hid
den un in that gem room--a man in
bla"'i mask"
How about it. Cleve?" asked Doyle.
in voice OF heavy skepticism
II saw him." I frantically insisted
"Nothin' in it," I could hear Will
kins condoning voice say over my
head. The only man that's up there's
dead man"
This girls sure got her wires
crossed" Doyle announced, with the
air OF man being tried beyond pa
thence.
Then I'm going back to that gem
room to get them Strengthened out"
announced. ran. stumbling
through the blackness. with hands
outstretched In front OF me. until I
came to the stairway. Doyle and Will
kins were calling for me to wait But
it was something quite different to
their very hoarse commands that
brought me to standstill. 1t was
the fact that ] had come into unex-
pected collision with a human body
human body hurryins noiselessly
down the very steps which was
about to ascend. And in another mo-
ment or two. as caught at a newell
post to steady myself. | heard the
street door suddenly open and close
again.
''She's gone" gasped wilkins, out
of the blarkness.
Then. for the love Of Mike, let's
get after her." was Doyle's frantic
comment. as they went stunning and
cropping toward the door.
But that door opened again before
they could get to II. There was a mo-
mentary fash and clash OF opposing
pocket lights, and then darkness
again.
who went out of here?" demanded
voice. which at once recognized as
Siosn's.
"The Rymal woman" was wilkins
answer. l could hear Sloan's quick
snort OF disgust
what man went out OF this houseo"
N,n a 81 ka, k