The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14

switch inside the door, stood on the thresh- old, barring the way. Win did not try to push past him, nor did she show any i'm patience, nor even eagerness. He stared her in the eyes as if to ask What trick do you hope to play, wonder?" But being perfect ly sure that there was no way out, that no trick in her power was worth worrying about, he felt that it was safe to humor her.
 You can even go to sleep on the scfa,'' he said Eff you'll let me come and wake you up. Oh, I've caught you looking at the keyhole! There's no key in it, you see, for me to lock you in-@or for you to lock me out"
 Neither of us would be so medieval. would we?;' she laughed. That would be silly way to begin the evening. Now that I am here l am going to make the very, very best of it, promise you.''
 That's right! You're the girl of my heart!' said Logan, and stepping away from the door, let her walk into the lighted boudoir.
 Gently and slowly. almost coquettishly. she shut him out, smiling into his face until the oak panels had closed between him and her. All the furniture was pushed against the walls, except a writing desk with gilded legs, which stood in the embrasure of the big window, and to this the girl ran softly on tiptoe, across the bare parquet floor. It was covered with sheeting, which she turned carefully back that nothing might. be dis turbed and, in falling. make a noise. AL most she had reached the limit of her strength and had no breath even to whisper the "thank heavenr she felt, seeing what she had prayed to find--a telephone and directory.
 On the desk lay large tortoise-shell paper-knife. That, thrust under the door as a wedge, would be almost as good as a lock. At least she might count on it to protect her for five minutes. But if she pushed it through to the other side Jim Logan would see the flat, brown blade stick out over the hn JUnr INt thn hal otoh
 She took the paper-knife, and holding it firmly by it's carved handle, she put the blade under the sole of her foot and thus snapped it off short.
 The thick end, still attached to the handle, was just not too thick to push part way under the door. Win could only hope that 1t might hold when need came. Now for the book. Yes, there was the name-Logan. There were many Logans, but only one in this particular street.
 heavenly music. The Logan family had not studied economy and cut off their teie- phone. "Glve me the nearest police sta tion quick!" she added to the number, and at the sound of an hysterical note in her voice Logan's hand was on the door-knob. that Logan might hear her. She gave the number of the house. then hurried on: For Gods sake send at once. The house is shut up, but by a trick girl has been brought Tn by young MT. Logan. She's in great danger. It's she who is calling-begging for help--quick- quick-hes here!'
 Crash! The door flew wide and banged against the wall. Logan almost falling into the room as the wedge shook lose Sliding on the smooth parquet, he lost his balance for an instant, and before he could reach the girl to snatch the receiver from her hand, she had dashed through the door and into the hall. There she would have been stopped by the servant if she had not lodged under hls arms and darted into the dining room.
 When Jim Logan, all the latent brutality Tn hun wide awake, came bounding over the threshold she faced him across his silver and flowers and glittering glass.
 Come herer he said m a voice curiouslv unlike the jovial tone she had known as his.
 No" she panted. "Pll stay where I am till the police arrest you as a kidnapper."
 You'll not stay!" he flung at her. 'If you won't come out of that, I'll fetch you"
 The girl stood behind one of the two chars drawn up to the table and both hands convulslvely clutched the high, carved back But seeing him spring toward her, she lost her nerve for the first time. Trying to make screen of the char, she felt the floating gauge of her dress catch on some unseen nail or splinter of broken wood, struggled to tear it free, and found herself in Logan's arms The shrill sound of ripping stitches and tearing gauge mingled with the sharp blow of the girls palm on the mans ear,