Evening journal., 1922-05-24


with Linda Lee Gnc); she had
ceased TO feel self-conscious in the
fierce white light OF the Kleigs.
1t wasn't till she found herself in
tn corridor leading to her suite that
Lucinda remembered Nelly Marquis;
she hadn't given the girl two
thoughts since morning.
AS she passed Miss Marquis room,
she noticed that the door was slight
ly ajar. and where the light from
the corridor struck in across the
Threshold, a white hand at rest
upon the floor. a woman's hand,
palm up. the fingers slightly con-
tracted. absolutely still. A startling
thing to see
For few seconds Lucinda stood
entranced with premonitions of
horror. Then she moved to the door
and raped on 1t gently. There was
no response, the hand didn stir.
She called guardedly: miss Mar
quisl"-and when nobody answered
laid hold of the knob.
Nelly Marquis lay supine, breath
Ing, II at all. so lightly that the
movement OF her bosom, beneath the
ragged lace OF a pink silk negligee,
was imperceptlble. Her lids, half
lowered, showed only the whites OF
rolled up eyes. her lips were parted
and discolored. her painted pallor
was more CHASTITY even than It had
been in the morning. On the evil
dence OF her body's posture in rela-
ton to the partly opened door, she
had been taken suddenly III; had
rushed TO call for assistance, and had
fallen in the act of turning the knob
Lucinda shut the door. knelt,
touched the girls wrist, and found II
icy cold. But when she placed her
hand upon the bosom she found Il
warm, and that the heart in It was
family but unmistakably fettering
In relief and pity. she essayed to
take the girl up In her arms and
carry here to the bed. but found the
dead weight too great.
Casting round at random for
something in the nature of restor-
alive, she found in the bathroom
bottle OF aggressive toilet water and !
a pint flask OF whisky, half emptied |
Alternately moistening the pale
lips with the whisky and bathing |
The brows and temples with toilet |
water, she observed for the first
lime a reddish bruise under the left
,ye, the mark OF a blow, possibly
in falling. But there was
nothing nearby that the girl could
lave struck. TO inHict such hurt,
xcept the door-knob, and II she had
truck this with such force she
must, one would think. have slam
ned the door.
II was puzzling.
Her ministrations eventually be-
an to take effect. The bleached lips
tuvered, closed, then opened and
losed several times The woman's
lshes trembled and curtsined her
yes.
do you think you re strong !
lough now to get TO bed. IL help?"
The girl nodded: %. try"
he whispered. Using all her '
rength, Lucinda succeeded in get
ng Nelly Marquis on her feet. g
bout this time the clouded faculties n
egan to clear. Clinging to Luz e
midas arm, the girl started as II in
spasm Of fear, darted swift glances a
I terror round the room, then turn y
d a look Of perplexity to Lucinda. O
Where is her the whisper de-
handed. Has he-has he gone?" h
There is no one else here, MOTH
ng TO be afraid OF. Come: let me
help you to bed" 6
Recognition dawned as she spoke. g
with movement of feeble fury the I
girl threw Lucinda's arm away, but /
deprived Of its support staggered to |
the foo tof the bed. to which she