Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-28

dow through which he might have
lie frowned in a troubled way, It
was true that as he had climbed IN
that night, he had not been IN con
dition to take much note OF the r0oni'
but vet 1t did seem to be. the same plnce.
The frown vanished. what did IL mn
ter? lie knew now beyond any cues.
tion whose face It was. that had come
20 hin, so often in that shaft Of sunlight.
Yes. it did matter! He must have Dcen
Unconscious, perhaps for only isW
houras perhaps for days. but II thls
was the same place. then she was mere.
NOT as A fiement Of the brain. not as
ono created out Of his own longing. put
here in her actual person. nv,hs:
breathing reality. It was the girl VI
the travelling pawnshop, and,--
John Bruce found himself istsn;isnk
| with sudden intentness. was ne i. ur.
| inv back into inconsistencies agaln.
into that realm Of unreal things. where
the mind, fevered and broken, wovc OUT
Of its sick Imagination queer. meaning
less fancics? 1t was strange that un
reol things should seem 70 real! WASH
fhnt an animal of some sort scratch
ING st the wall Of the house outside:
He lifted his, head slightly from the
pillow--and held it there, a. voics
! from within the room reached MIN III
an angry, rasping whisper: ..
null tho house down and have done with
~ You clumsy hog DO you want
the police on usf Cant you climb three
feet without waking up the whole oi
New York;" .u
they formed n tight. straight line. I'M.
was strange! Very strange! 1t wasn
A yagary of his brain this time, his
brain was as clear now az IL had ever
been in his life. Tho voice came IRON
beyond the head Of his coat. ne mac
seen no one in the room, >but that VA
natural enough since from the positiol
in which he was lying his line Of visiol
was decidedly restricted: what seemed
;ncomprchensiblc. though. taken IN con
junction with the words he had Jus
,, hoard was that his own presence there
nppearc,l TO be completely ignored.
, lie twisted his head around eau
, tiously, and found that the head OF IN
!, cot was surrounded BY q screen. ~, ~
! nodded to himself little grimly. ina
, accounted for It! There was scrapin'
: sound now. and heavy, laoofed prea'n
ing. ,.,
, John Bruce silently and stealthil:
stretched ont his arm. He eouia Jus
| ~
soft. silken material, and his finger'
found no difficulty in drawing this bacl
a little from the edge OF that portion
Of the upright framework which was d.
= rectly in front of him. ,.
! He scarcely brenthed now. perhap'
he was in 80 weak state that M
, mind faltcrcd il crowded. for there was
so much to see that he could not seen
to grasp it all ms single picture. li'
gazcd fascinated. The details came
slowly--Onc by one. 1t was the room
where he had crawlcd In through th'
window and had fallen senscless to- th'
, floor whenever that had been. Thn'
was the window there. And, curiousiS )
enough another man wns crawling II
through It now! And there was whis
per!ng. And two other men were al
, ready standing in the room. but he coui'
, not see their faces because their back
, were turned to him.
Then one of the two swung aroun'
In the direction Of the window, bringing
his face into view. John Bruce CLOSED
his eyes for n moment. Yes. it mus
/ be that! His mind was off wanderinI
5 once more. painting and picturing To-
, itself it's fanclful unrcalitics. bringing
) back again the character 1t had created
the man with the sinister face who's
pallor was unhealthy ana repuiSi'e.
2 And then he opened his eyes am
| looked again. and the face was sti'
| thcre-nnd it was real. And now tn
$ man spoke:
Come on. get busy, Birdie. If yol
take as long to crack the box as yol
G have taken to climb in through low
4 window. maybe we'll be invited t.
c breakfast with the family. You ar
| lust like a swell cracksman--not: Blu
e here's the combnatlon-so try and pla
= up to the part!'