Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-24
CHAPTER vi
Lixhts Out

Lights Out
II was Eve minutes to ten by hi
witch when Kirby entered the Parade,
Apartments. The bulletin board tol,
MIN that his uncle's apartment was IL
He did not take the self-serve elevator
but the stairs. The hall on the sec
ond floor was dark. Since he did no
know whether the rooms he wanted
were on this floor or the next h
knocked at door.
Kirby thought he heard the whispe,
Of voices and he knocked again. HI
had to rap third time before the dooi
was opened.
II ever Lane had seen stark, naked
fear in human face, It stared at hin
out Of that Of the woman in front OF
him. She was tall, angular woman
Of a harsh, forbiddins countenance,
breasted and middle aged. Behind
her, farther back in the room, the
rough rider caught O glimpse Of a fat,
gross, ashen faced man fleeing toward
the inner door Of a bedroom TO escape
being seen. He was thrusting into his
coat pocket what looked to the man In
the hall like a revolver.
"Can you tell me where James Cum
ningham's apartment is?' asked Kirby.
The woman gasped. The hand on the
doorknob was trembling violently.
Something clicked in her throat when
tho dry lips tried to frame an answer.
"Head o. the stairs-right hand, :"
she managed to get out, then shut the
door swiftly in the face Of the man
whose simple question had 10 shocked
her.
Kirby heard the latch released from
its catch. The key In the lock below
also turned.
"She's takin' no chances" he MUIR
INJURED. Now wonder why both her
an my fat friend are 30 darned wor-
ried. Who we're they lookin' for when
they opened the door an saw me? An
why did it get her goat when l asked
where Uncle James livedf"
As he took the treads that brought
him to the next landing the cattleman
had an impression Of q light being
flashed of somewhere. He turned to
the right as the woman below had d.
rcted.
The first door had on the panel a
card with his uncle's name. He knocked,
and at tho same instant noticed that
the door was ajar. No answer came.
His finger found the electric push but
ton. He could hear it buzzing inside.
1Wtt pusHtu II.
said to himself well, I reckon iii
step In an leave note. Or maybe
I'll wait. If the doors open he's liable
to be right back"
He stepped into tho room. It was
dark. His fingers CROPPED along the
wal Tor the button to throw ON the
light; Before he found 1t q sound
startled him.
1t was the soft faint painting of some
lie was a man whose nerves were
under the best OF control, hut the cold
teet OF mice battered up and down his
spine. Something was wrong. The
hIth sense Of danger that comes 10
some men who live constantly In peril
was warning him.
who thcre2" he asked sharply.
=. no voice replied, but there was q
stirring 'AA"
NE waited, crouched in the darkness.
mere came another vague rustic OF |
tiUvensht. tiUo And presently another, this
Ss,ert' Keyed up to closest attention. He |
knew that some one, for some sinister
purpose, had come into this apartment
ana IN been trapped here by him.
I'D, L6e moments flew. lie thought he
s,;so, vHIu near his hammering heart. A
.aeu Sra. gasp, dozen feet from him, was
aust audible.
a. ne leaped for the sound. His out
inung hand struck an arm and slid down
y, caught at small wrist, and fastened
SIete; In, fraction of a second left
ain ne realized, beyond question, that
Was woman he had assaulted.
m tne hand was wrencnod from him.
sa snete came a zigzag fash of lightning
~ tsrhg his brain, a crash that oiled
ancoNod S wor!d for him-and no doated into