The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-08-16
The Hand in the Dark.

sinister kind.
 She listened. standing like a marble image-and as white.
 It came again-a. sound as of a hand fumb1ing on the window panes.
 Suddenly Nora rushed across the room and sent the blind up with jerk.
 Just then the library door opened, and she turned to meet Bashis smile.
 Miss, you call Miss 9" he questioned amiab1y.
 An answer gurgled in Nora's throat.
 'tNo!"
 "You call mis-" again said Bashi, this time as a request.
 Why, what do you want?''
 "I tell her somet'ing. The dining room window-it open,'' he replied.
 t'Irher dining room window open," said Nora. Well, what of that. Bashi?"
 "I don know," said the boy. T go in the room jus now. I put the sir yer in the drawer. I feel cold. l pull the blind. and see window open. I no open it. You come see, mis-"
 He led the way. and Nora follow
 In the dining room, Bashi pursued the point.
 See, mis-? You tell Mis- Samson not Bashfs fault eh?"
 Mrs. Sand derson's voice was now heard calling.
 Nora hurried out to find her at the foot of the stairs. the woman. Nora nodded and passed on her | way. Mrs. Sanderson went into the library.
 Bashi was left staring perplexedely at the open window, which seemed to prey on his mind. He was just about to close it, when | a figure emerged from behind the 1 curtains of the adjoining window. ! which was instantly checked at an 1 imperative sign from the intruder l A short, evil-looking Japanese. | A few sentences in their own | tongue passed rapidly between the l two men. Then. with a stealthy | movement, as of a cat stalking its prey, the newcomer glided out of the l room and up the stairs. At the door of the room from wlsich the music was issuing the hg- ure paused then slipped behind the heavy curtain which was hung out 1 side.
 For a few seconds he tarried, searching for the handle. Finding it, i he silently pushed the door a few inches ajar and peered into the dark ness, to assure himself that the | player was alone | In another moment ne was be- | tween the door and the inner curtain, and the door was closed behind him.
 Nora had gone gladly into the | darkness. It had seemed to her like ! nF a stO infn S11r ar | calm. The very darkness soothed her racked nerves.
 Wild, desolate melodies that were the expression of a breaking heart chords harmonically incorrect. yet poignant with suffering played on, forgetting fear, remembering nothing but sorrow.
 And while she was playing a pie ture rose before her. l She saw into the future-herse1f forlorn and hopeless, a creature shadowed by the cloud of a. great crime, shut out from the light of life almost as completely as the man 1T this dark room.
 She sa4N her father drifting slowly l towaE1 +43e grave @ sinner whos' p-st would be ever present, whose sins could never be wiped out on thi earth. She thought of her deat mother, and cry of anguish bTok' from her.
 had been, brought her abruptly t her celses, and she went on playing desperately trying to banish her un } happy thoughts.
 Slowly, gradually, other feeling and impression began to assert them selves. All the warmth in her bod, seemed to be leaving it. Her hand
 
 the keys. Something-she knew not what
 had suddenly thrilled her with dread The voice, tonight, was silent, ye , never had she Ionged so much | hear it. She wanted to cry out an
 beseech it to speak, but the word
 froze on her tongue.
 She went on playing, but now as
 mere automaton. The intensity C the darkness was no longer soothing it had become fearful. She wondere |. how long she could sit there and bea
 it.
 5 A movement near her brought cry through her dry lips She reach ed out both arms quickly. 5 The next instant two long, horrib1
 bony hands met ikea vice around he throat. r Desmond! Des-!'' |, Choking, cackl1ng, the name fell o 7 the blind mans ears. g He awoke as from a dream.
 s'What is it? What is it ?" he sai starting to his feet. Nothing but that awful omino1
 cackling answered him. 2 He stumbled over the room, gro]
 ing about him. He reached the piar h, and put out his hands. Then le knew that there was some one wi lg Nora, and that they were strugglin is Staggering over to the door wi n- but one thought, he pulled back u LII LII curtains. ,a Everything was forgotten but u Is kn owledge that the girl he loved W
 in peril.
 Help! Help!" he called out hors
 ly.
 The light in the passage stream ar upon him. It danced before I 1e eyes.