Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-09-08


leading downward. My fingers gripped
the banisters, while she stood aside
to let me pass.
you better go ahead now; the next
flight is directly beyond this, and
ends at the street ooor."
.You will follow"
"of course: shall keep right be-
hind you"
We went down step by step, not a
stair creaking. or sound louder than
our own breathing. | reached the
last step, warned by the newell post
and felt ahead with one cropping foot
TO assure myself of the level beyond.
Her fingers grasped my sleeve, and
lips almost at my ear, whispered a
barely audible warning
"Look to the right! What is that?'
1t was dull, red glow. mere pin
prick in the black curtain, vet 1t
seemed to change in brilliancy, like an
evil eve winking at us out of the
dark. There was something uncanny
about the thing, yielding me no sugges-
ton as to what 1t could be. yet
frightening by its baleful gleam at
such a time and place. Then there
was borne to my nostrils the faint
odor of tobacco smoke; 1t must be a
man sitting there smoking; what we
saw was the red tip of his cigar.
Gould we slip by unheardf
doubted it, yet whatever happened,
one of us, at least, must escape from
the house before any alarm was
sounded There was but one chance
left-for her to slip silently down
that other flight of stairs to the street
door, while remained behind to pro-
tect her flight. II there was no alarm
no notice taken of her passage
possibly might venture to follow
without being overheard; but she
must go first, her step was light. and
she was more sure of the way. Be-
sides, could block pursuit, by a
fight IL necessary, and thus give her
ample time In which to unchain and
open that front door. Once without.
these fellows would never follow
| put my lips close against the girls
ear.
at is guard there smoking Don't
try to answer, but do exactly as
say. One of us, at least, must get
out; you stand the better chance,
with my remaining behind to hold
these fellows back If there should be
any alarm. IF there is not, I'll follow.
DO you Observation-Disclosures with
your hand"
felt the firm pressure Of her fingers
In quick response.
"The fellow evidently hasn't heard
anything yet--you better CO."
felt her creep past me without a
sound, her hand slipping from my
grasp as her foot touched the level
floor of the hall. She was invisible,
no longer even shadow in the black
gloom Then suddenly from somewhere
a chain clanked family; the ear could
not determine from what direction the
sound came, yet 1t was clear enough
to. be heard plainly. The man stood
still, evidently listening; I lost sight
Of the red glow, as though he had re-
moved the cigar from between his
lips. and slowly Strengthened myself
up, braced for any emergency. She
had reached the outside door, and was
preparing to open It, For an instant
nothing happened. Then the sharp.
resounding click of heavy lock
he ha IN
of hammer.
The fellow snapped on the cleo
tricity, flooding the large hall, and.
uttering a gruff oath, started forward.
We met face to face. There was
nothing else for it but to fight II out
If I ran the act would only expose
her before she could distance pursuit
besides that first glimpse had revealed
my antagonist, and | was glad-it was
Gentleman George! He knew me
almost at the same instant, splitting
out a curse as he reached back for
his gun.
"You. hey! How the HI did you
get down herep
But | vas quicker, the move ready,
gripping the wrist, and twisting the
arm back until the torture caused him
to drop the weapon, as we struggled
back across the width of the hall. We
were both weaponless, relying only Oh
the efficacy of bare hands, but he
turned into a savage. a dangerous
fighter who cxed only TO disable his
opponent in any way possible. II was
like battling with wild cat, infuri-
ated, crazed with hate and fear. And
for TIE moment the fellow had me,
driving me back against the rail, help
less before the fierceness Of his
assault.
Some one was coming. could hear
voice, and flying steps on the stairs;
then woman's scream somewhere
above. / broke away, getting grip
on his throat, and feeling my feet
firm on the floor. He could see what
/ couldn't, and found voice In spite
Of my throttllng.
''It's that id skunk, Severn, got
out. Hit him, Ivani Smash In, I've