The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1922-04-27
(Continued From Yesterdav.l


whip-hand over Danglar in the in
terview she proposed to have with
him; the one means of escape, the
last resort, if she herself were cor
nered and fell into his power. 1t had
sustained her more than once, that
resolution to turn it against herself if
she were In extremity. 1t meant ev-
erything to her, that weapon, and it
was gone now; but the panic that had
seized upon her was gone too, and
she could think nationally and col
lectively again.
Last night, OF rather this morning
when she had made her way back to
the shed out there in the lane behind
the garnet. she had been in a state
Of almost utter exhaustion. She had
changed from the clothes of the
White Mon to those of Gypsy Nan,
but she must have done SO almost
mechanically for she had no con-
crete recollection of it. 1t was quite
likely then, even more than probable,
that she had left the revolver in the
pocket of her other clothes; for she
had certainly had, not only her re-
volver, but her fashlight and her
skeleton keys with her when she had
visited old Luertz's place last night,
and later on too, when she had jump
ed into that automobile in front of
the Silver Sphinx, she had had her
the chauffeur out of the car-and she
had no one of those articles now.
of counsel That was 1t! She step
ped impulsively to door, and, opening
it, made her way quickly down the
stairs to the street. The revolver
was undoubtedly in the pocket of her
other skirt, and she felt a surge Of
relief sweep upon her; but a sense
of relief was far from enough. She
AL 20 4Io
was again in her possession, and in
tuitively she felt that she had no
time to lose in securing it. She had
already been left too long alone not
to make a break in that unaccount-
able isolation they had accorded her
as something to be expected at any
moment.
She hurried now down the street to
the lane that interviewed between
Gypsy Mans house and the next cor
ner. glanced quickly about her, and,
seeing no oro in her imme diate vi
cinity. slipped into the lane. She
gained the deserted shed some SO
yards along the lane. entered through
the broken door that hung, half open,
on sagging hinges, and, dropping on
her knees. reached in under the de-
cayed and rotting flooring. She push
ed aside impatiently the package of
jewels, at whose magnificence she
had gazed awe-struck and bewi1dered
the night before, and drew out the
bundle that comprised her own cloth
ing. Her hand sought the pocket
eagerly. Yes, it was here-at least
the f1ashlight was, and were the
skeleton keys. That was what had
happened! She had been near utter
collapse last night, and she had for
gotten, and
Rhoda Gray, unconscious even that
she still held the clothing in her
hands, rose mechanically to her feet.
There was a sudden WEAKNESS in her
eyes as she stared unseeingly about
her. Yes, the f1ashhght and the keys
were here-but the revolver was not!
Her brain harked back in lightning
flashes over the events OF the proceed
ing night. She must have lost 1t
somewhere, then. Where? She had
had it in the automobile. that she
knew positiely; but after that she
did not remember, unless - yes, it
must have been thatI When she had
jumped from the car and flung ner-
self down at the roadsidel 1t must
have fallen out of her pocket.
Her heart seemed to stand still.
Suppose they had found it! They
would certainly recognize It as be-
longing to Gypsy Nan! They were
not fools The deduction would be
N1on would be solved. Was that why
no one had apparently come near
her? Were they playing at cat-and-
mouse, watching her before they
struck, so that she would lead them
to those Jewels under the flooring
here that were worth a kings ran
som? They certainly believed that
the White Mon had them The
Adventures note, so ironically true.
that he had intended as an alibi for
himself, and which he had exchanged
for the package in old Luertz's place.
would have left no doubt in their
minds but that the stones were in her
possession Was that it? Were
they
She held her breath. It seemed as
though suddenly her limbs were re-
fusing to support her weight. In the
soft earth outside she had heard no
step. but she saw now 4 shadow fall
athwart the half-open doorway.
There was no time to move, even had
she been capable of action. It SEEM
ed as though even her soul had turn
ed to stone. and, with the White
b9plPs clothes IN her hands she stood
there staring at the doorway, and
something that was greater than fear,
because it mingled horror, ugly and
forbidding. fell upon her. 1t was
still just light enough to see. The
shadow moved forward and came in
side She wanted to scream, to rush
m&dly in retreas to the farthest cor
ner OF the shed: but she could not
move. It was Danglar who was
standing there. He seemed to sway
little on his feet. and the dark, sinis-
ter face seemed blotched, and he
seemed to smile as though possessed
of some unholy and perverted sense
Of humor.
She was heIpdsss at his mercy, I'M
armed. saved for her wits. Her wits,
Were wits any longer of avail? She
could believe nothing else now ex-
cept that he had been watching her
before he struck.
What are you doing here. and
what are those clothes you've got in
Your hands?" he rasped OUT
She could only fence for time in the
1t lc,ara IaIa1c