The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-09-28
BY Randall
Parrish
Author Of
"The Strange Case
Of Cavendish"

| eAHuuStlVl CdTeu 10 kuOW no UlOTc
Then l staggered to my knees and
with opened eyes stared curiOusly
about, gathering my wits together
There was nothing to see but the
four walls. tried the door. and II
opened silently, permitting me to
glance out INFO a narrow dark hall
way, uncarpeted. could dimly
discern the top of flight of stairs
lending down to the story below.
slipped out, and closed the door softly
behind me. being plunged instantly into
funeral blackness
| ! CROPPED a way forward toward the
| stairs, guided by hand against the
wall. until the touch of the upper rail
assured me Of my position. A narrow
strip OF carpeting-rag I took 1t to
be from the feeling--extended down
the center of the stairs, sufficient to
muffie any footsteps, and paused
moment listening for the slightest
noise amid the darkness beneath. All
remained still and mysterious; SO that
drew forth my shoes from coat
pocket and slipped them on.
Twice the boards creaked Ominously
under my tread, sounding terrific in
that silence, and causing me to hang
In suspense over the banister rail.
holding my breath in fear of discovery.
At last I attained the wider space at
the bottom, and sought blindly to ex-
piore my surroundings. But for the
carpet underfOOt, and a small sofa
encountered In recess, l would have
believed myself in a deserted house.
l knew l was on the third floor. yet
there was no curve in the banisters,
showing a way to the next flight of
stairs, nor could locate them by any
er0rt. AS the result of blindly cropping
about. l lost all sense of direction and
must have wandered into side room
through an undraped recess, for
suddenly brought up against a table,
Uttered with papers and books.
Startled by this encounter into a
realization that was lost in strange
house at an unhOly hour of the morn
Ing, and that the slightest misstep in
that darkness might result in an alarm
to awaken every sleeper, for a few
minutes l did not venture to move in
any direction. Yet manifestly could
not remain there indefinitely, and so,
blindly choosing course, l set forth,
FEELING way cautiously forward until
first ran into chair, and then struck
one hand against side wall. fol-
lowed this latter as best l could,
inspired by the thought that If / con-
tinued this course long enough l must
attain the opening through which
mad entered the room. On the way
my hands felt the outlines Of a closed
door, and, in aimlessly cropping about,
encountered key In the lock. 1t
was so inserted as to be extracted
at the touch Of my fingers and instant
" tiny ray Of light shot forth
through the vacated hole It was such
relief In the heart of that darkness
as to cause me to quickly bend down
and endeaver to view the scene within.
1t was evidently a chamber Of some
size. and we'll furnished, rather dimly
Illuminated by single shaded electric
globe, handsome green rug on the
floor. and numerous pictures hung
about the walls. I could perceive the
outlines Of bed at one side, barely
within the range Of the vision. and
opposite this an ornate dresser, with
three mirrors. But what my ewes
rested upon with greater interest was
luxurious leather couch beside the
further wall on which a woman rested.
with some sort Of covering draped
about her. She lay with face toward
the wall. mottOnless, and to all appear.
ances sound asleep.
To arouse her was the last thing
desired. and l would have slipped the
key back into the lock. and. stolen
silently along In the darkness, had she
not suddenly stirred. flinging out one
hand rs though In fear Of some dream.
and turned partially. so that her face
became clearly visible. The sleeper
was Marie Gessler! For a moment !
could scarcely credit the discovery:
yet there could be no mistake. I re.
membered too well every character. |
istic Of the girl. to be deceived.
(ro BE CONTINUED.)