The evening world., 1920-04-05

developing into "a live horror,
DUTniney fancied himself back
in Africa, with the hand OF an en-
envy upon his throat. Then a rush
Of awakened memories-the silence
of the great house, the mysterious
rustling OF the heavy hangings
around the black oak four-poster on
which he lay, the faint pricking vi
something deadly at his Throat nese
things rolled back the curtain OF un-
reality, brought him acute and pain
ful consciousness OF situation al.
most appalling.
He opened his eyes, and although
brave and callouS man he lay stil.,
paralyZed with the fear which for
bids motion. Tho dim light OF
candle. recently lit, flashed upon the
bodkin-like dagger held at his throat.
He gazed at the thin line OF CLEAN
ing steel, fascinated. Already his
skin had been broken, a few drops
of blood were upon the collar of his
pajamas. The hand which held tina
deadly, asSailinG weapon-small, slim,
very feminine. curving from some
where behind the bed curtain-be-
! longed TO some unseen person. He
tried TO shrink farther back upon
the pillow.
The hand followed him, displaying
glimpses now of a soft, white sleeyed
! arm. He lay quite still, the muscles
, or his right arm growing tenser as he
prepared for a snatch at those cruel
| fingers. Then n voice came-a Glow,
| feminine and rather wonderful voice.
If you move" it said, you will die.
Remain quite still"
Dominey was fully conscious now,
his brain at work, calculating his
| chances ayith all the cunning OF the
trained hunter who seeks to avoid
| death. Reluctantly he was compelled
| TO realize that no movement of his
! could be quick enough to prevent the
I driving OF that thin stiletto into his
/ throat, II his hidden assailant should
keep her word. So he lay still.
Why do you want to kill me?" he
| asked, little tenseiy.
There was no reply, yet somehow he
/ knew that he was being watched.
[ Ever so slightly those curtains around
which the arm had come were beng
parted. Through the chink some one
| was looking at him. The thought
! came that he might call out for help,
! and once more his unseen enemy read
! his thought.
you must be very quiet" the voice
| said--that voice which II was difficult
/ for him 20 believe was not the voice
/ OF II child. 'If You even speak above
a whisper IL will he the end. wish
| TO look at you"
! A little wider the crack opened and
| then he began TO feel hope. The hand
| which held the stiletto was shaking
! he heard something which sounded
! like quick breathing from behind the
| curtainS-the breathing of n woman
astunished or terrihed--and then, So
! suddenly that for several seconds he
could not move or take advantage OF
! the circumstance, the hand with its
cruel weapon was withdrawn around
! the curtain and a woman began to
| laugh, softly at first. and then with
a little hysterical sob thrusting its
way through that incongruous note
! OF miTth.
He lay upon the bed as though
mesmerlZed, finding at his first effort
that his limbs refused their office, as
might the limbs OF one lying under
the thrall OF nightmare. The laugh
died away, there was a sound like
scrap!ng upon the wall, the candle
was suddenly blown out. Then his
nerve began to return and. with IL
his control over his limbs. He
craWled to the side of the bed remote
from the curtains, stole 10 the little
table ON which he had left his
revolver ana an electric torch
snatched at them, and. with the
former in his right hand, flashed =.
little orb OF light into the shadows
of the great apartment. Once more
something like terror seized him.
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