The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-10-14
CHAPTER xlI-continued.


seemed to change in brilliancy, like an
evil eye wink!ng at US out Of the
dark. There was something uncanny
about the thing yielding me no sugges-
ton as to what Il could be. yet
frightening by its baleful CLEAN at
such a time and place Then there
was borne to my nOstrils the faint
OdOr of tobacco smoke; II must be a
man sitting there smoking; what we
saw was the red tip of his cigar.
Could we slip by unhearG?
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
Ieft-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 60 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 fine in which to unchain and
opel that front door. Once without,
these fellows would never follow.
put my lips close against the girls
ear.
''It is n guard there smoking. Don't
try to answer. but do exactly as I
say. One Of US, at least. must get
out; you stand the better chance,
with my remaining behind to hold
any alarm. IF there is not, I'll follow.
Do you understand ANSWER with
your hand"
felt the firm pressure of her fingers
10 quick response.
"The fellow evidently hasn't heard
anything yet-you better 60"
felt her creep past me without
sound, her hand slipping from my
grasp as her foot touched the level
door OF the hall She was invisible,
no longer even shadow I'm the black
gloom. Then suddenly from somewhere
a chain clanked family; the ear could
not determine from what direction the
sound cine, yet 1t was clear enough
20 be heard plainly. The man stood
still. evidently listening; 1 lost sight
OF the red glow. as though he had re
moved the cigar from between his
lips. and slowly strengthened myself
mp, braced for any emergency. She
had reached the outside door, and was
preparing to open 1t. For an instant
nothing happened. Then the sharp,
resOunding click of heavy lock
echoed up from beneath, like the tap
OF a 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 It 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"I He knew me
almost at the same instant, splitting
out curse as he reached back for
his gun.
you, hey! How the HI did you
get down here!"
But I was quicker, the move ready,
gripping the wrist, and twisting the
arm back until the torture caused him
back across the width Of the hall. We
were both weaponless, relying only on
the efficacy of bare hands, but he
turned into a savage, dangerous
fighter who cared only 70 disable his
opponent in any way possible. 1t was
like battling with a wild cat. infuri-
ated. crazed with hate and fear. And
for the moment the fellow had me,
driving me back against the rail, help
less before the ferceness of his
assault
Some one was coming. l could hear
8 voice, and flying steps on the stairs
then a woman's scream somewhere
above. I broke away, getting grip
on his throat, and feeling my feet
firm on the floor. He could see what
1 couldn't, and found voice in spite
or my thrOttling.
Its that id skunk. Severn, got
our. Hit him, Ivani Smash in, I've
got the guy-quick now"
1 whirled with him, ducking my own
head behind his shoulder. gaining as
/ did so one blurred glimpse of Wal
dron as he swung full at me with
what looked like the leg OF a chair. |
Harris caught the full force of the |
blow just over his eyes and the power !
OF It. added TO the swirl OF my arms. |
sent him hurting along the rounded |
rail, headlong down the stairs Wal |
dron stood paralyzed. stunned. his |
hands still On the club, his eyes follow |
ing that flying figure With all my
drove fist fiat to his face,
and, as he reeled, stumbling backward,
to retain his feet, / /
sprang past, and raced down the steps, |
The body lay at the bottom motionless,
huddled up la such fashion as TO |
block the door. Without a doubt but |
that the man was dead, / thrust the |
form 70 one side, leaped through the
opening, and crashed the door behind
me.
/ turned to the left, afraid OF the /
bright lights, and the street-cars, and t
plunged into the depths OF the alley.
I may have gone a mile, twisting and
turning before / came to what
evidently was small hotel. Here
I encountered q cab, an old horse cab,
the driver half asleep inside An old
time cabby was not liable to care who