New Britain herald., 1922-05-24

For few seconds Lucinda stood
 entraneed with premonitions of
 horror, Then she moved to the door no response. the hand didn't stir, She called guardedlyi Miss Marquisl"--- and when nobody answered laid hold
 Of the knob.
 Nelly Marquis lay supine, breath ing, if at all, so lightly that the | movement Of her bosom, beneath the | ragged lace of pink silk negligee, was imperceptible, Her lids, half 1 lowered, showed only the whites of rolled up eyes, her lips were parted /, and discoored her painted pallor
 was moro ghastly even than 1t had | been in the morning. On the evi-
 dence of her body's posture in rea- | ton to the partly opened door, she had been taken sudenly ill, had rush | ed to call for assistance. and had fall-
 en in the act of turning the knob, Lucinda shut the door, knelt
 touched the girls wrist, and found 1t l icy cold. But when she placed her hand upon the bosom she found 1t | warm, and that the heart In it was faintly but unmistakably fluttering. In relief and pity, she essayed to
 take the girl up in her arms and
 carry her to the bed, but found the dead weight too great,
 Casting round at random for some thing in the nature of a restorative, 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 whiskey and bathing the brows and temples with toilet water, she observed for the first time red dish hruise under the left eye, the mark of blow, possibly sustained in falling But there was nothing nearby that the girl could have struck, to inflict such a hurt, except the door knob and if she had struck this with such force she must, one would think, have slammed the door. It was puzzling
 Her ministrations eventually be- gan to take effect. The bleached lips quivered closed, then opened and closed several times. The woman's lashes trembed and curtained her eyes.
 Do you think you're strong enough now to get to bed, if I help?"
 The girl nodded " try she whispered Using all her strength Lucinda succeeded in getting Nelly Marquis on her feet. About this time the clouded faculties began to clear. Clinging to Lucinda's s arm, the girl started as if in a spasm of fear, darted swift glances of terror round the room then turned look of per pleXity to Lucinda.
 Where is he?' the whisper de- manded Has he--has he gone?"
 There is no one else here, nothing to be afraid of. Come: let me help you to bed.''
 Recognition daWned as she spoke, with a movement of feeble fury the girl threw Lucindas arm away, but deprived of its support staggered to the foot of the bed, to winch she clung, quaking.
 You" she cried-"what you doing here?'
 'The door was open, 1 saw you ly- lIS SeHSeltSS OH lHe llOOT Ou Il 1ldNc done as much for me-"
 "Oh, would [? A lot you know" Her knees seemed about to buckle; 1 will power alone kept Nelly Marquis | from sinking, yet she persisted: T suppose I ought to thank you. Well | much obliged, I'm sure. Is that enough"
 Quite enough. I've, no wish to l annoy you. Only, let me suggest l you need a doctor. May l ask the ] office to call one?"
 When l want doctor, I'll call | him myself. Good night"
 I'm sorry" said Lucinda simply.
 With no choice other than to go she went. But the vision she carried | away, of Nelly Marquis glaring at her with eyes malevolent, her frail | body vibrating so that it shook the | bed.
 (Continued in Our Next Issue)