The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-20
CHAPTER XII. "Opcn! Open Quickl :"

Opcn. Opeh
 The strange white face remained for a moment at the window-then it sud denly disappeared And Shirley rub bed her eyes as though the apparition had been just a dream--a terrifying nightmarei
 For there had been something sinis- ter about that face The eyes had held a curious glitter, and the skin had shown ghastly tinge.
 Just like a dead mans features"' thought poor Shirley. trembling. And yet. without a doubt. it had been JiEl
 The dual personality" idea came back to terrify her.
 At last with supreme effort of will, she dragged herself across the floor and peered through the glass out into the night. It was raining dis mally-a dreary downpour that put out the stars.
 She could see no lurking figure any f where.
 She listened in the eerie silence.
 Had that strange white face been merely figment of her own over wrought imagination?
 Hush. There was .as rustling in the garden. Then woman's scream rang out There was a sound of flying footsteps and sudden ring ing of the front door bell followed by violent knocking and an agitated voice crying:
 Open! Open quick"
 Shirley recognized the~tones of Nell lie Griffiths, the smart parlor maid, whose evening off" it was tonight. She ran to the door and opened it and Nell lie, pale and agitated, stumbled over the doorstep as though thousand phantoms were pursuing her. She clutched Miss Shirley by the arm.
 Why, Nellie. what's the matter?" Shirley drew her into the hall and nimbly closed the door. She too, was trembling? Didn't l hear you scream just now?"
 Nellie, completely overcome sank down off the nearest hall-chair and appeared to be on the verge of an hysterical attack.
 "Oh, Miss shirley-he-he caught me i by the arm-down by the garden gate such an awful fright I got-S' She shook all over.
 Ss's >"Yes-go on, Nellie! But speak softly, Grandmammas in bed, asleep." Shirley patted the girls arm, trying 10 reassure her. Tell me what frightened you!'
 He was talking to himself-a sfstrange man, hiding in the garden" The maid stared wildly al rhe inter- vening door. Miss shirley, put the bolt up quick~
 Shirley swung the bolt into position, then breathed more freely. Z Nellie pulled herself. together. Her 1 voice was quieter, more coherent, as : she said;
 z T was visiting my young mans : mother, on the other side of the vil- lage. He's up in Scotland just now : and. of course, there wasn't any one . to see me home. I hurried back to be . on time for I know you don't like . me to be later than half-past ten Miss . Shirley. And just as I turned in at / the garden gate a-a crazy fellow sprang out of the shrubbery He z grabbed me by the arm-he hurt me and he cried out: Is that you, Lucy ?'".
 'Ano-and what did you do?" asked Shirley.
 T got an awful fright" said Nell !. lie briefly, and I screamed out loud 7 And then he started talking and nut T tering to himself As ran uplthe gar E den path he called out after me: The girl in there is much better looking 2 than you are, Lucyp Oh, he certainly was mad. Miss Shirley,-here she chung to the young to the young girl looking fearfully about her-twe must bolt every window in the house tonight for I shouldn't be a bit surprised if he tries to get in and murder all of us"
 Come Nellie, don't be foolishm Shir- = ley's tones were brisk and reassuring, : though her heart had sunk down to her shoes. "We can telephone the po- i. lice. if you're afraid" . curious look came over the girls 2 face, half of embarra ssment, half apology
 Miss Shirley. if you won't think me { very bold"-
 "Xes. speak out Ne1lie" The maid hesitated. Then she said, . in lowered tones:
 : Miss Shirley, it seemed to me eas though that crazy fellow was-was- Z that nice MT. Dalton that had the ac- z -cident-the young artist man."
 You must be mistaken, Nellie! How could it be?'
 z Maybe the accident turned his z brain" said the maid, voicing a thought . that had frequently been in Shirley's : mind, and maybe he came here to- -night through jealousy. Oh. Miss Shir- ~ley"-her voice. took on a higher more ehysterical note--'I shouldn't be a bit ! surprised if he came here tonight--half crazed-to shoot you---~ Hush, Nellie. Don't be foolish, You've been reading far too many penny dreadfulsn As though there w'Iss' .Rrly possibility of such a thing,"