San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-21
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,y DOUGLAS GRANT
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massively carved oak, and they plung-
ed forward into the utter darkness Uf
The hall, then stood listening.
A faint sound like distant moaning
came to their ears and the captain
flashed his light about dill he found
the switch in the wall and the hal
'blaxed with brilliance.
While he paused to issue orders,
Mike and Trevor leaped up the stair
case and then paused for a moment
as though turned to stone, for at the
foot of the second flight of stairs Lead
ingupward there lay the body of a
woman. Her upturned face was thin
and dark, Ind the short, gasping
breaths issuing from her colorless lips
| each brought with them the moan OF
agony that they had heard, but there
was consciousness in her dulling eyes,
which frightened with recognition at
sight Of Trevor.
MY God !" the latter exclaimed
Its Thercse.'
The captain and several of his men
had bounded up the stairs. but at n
sign from Mike they stood back as
he and Trevor khelt to lift the woman.
They they saw IN the dim hall light
that blood was flowing from small
but evidently deep wound in her left
side. and as they raised her Redeemed
froth dubbed from her lips.
"Msieu Trevor" 1t was the mer-
est breath, but she essayed the ghost
of a smile. DO not leeft me too high
or the end will come before speak.
All-all are gone except M'sieu
lNhnp1atr Slnat mud hn lins daa1 in
the hall above,
Captain, send for that police sur
gcon who is out in one of the ears,
will YOU" Mike spoke over his shout
der in hurried undertone. IF any
of the boys here can take down dep
ostien in shorthand let him get busy.
Good. Another of them can step
carefully over the woman and see il
there's a mans body in the hall up
stairs, as she says"
More men had come softly up from
the floor below and now several
went to search the upper part Of the
house while a young plainclothcsman
knelt beside Mike with a pad and pen.
Gil.
"'rhorcse. where is Miss CJp4-
land?' asked Trevor in a low, COM
Polling tone.
'Dend. M'sieu, 7 swear it! Dead
in that wreck of the train last week
Absolute conviction breathed in her |
hoarse whisper. Madame Copeland,
M'sieu Sloat and ], we have queek |
adopt anothair yolng girl with golden |
hair from the wreck and bring her 70 |
this house. Sheh is unconscious. she |
knows nothing and Madame have rea-
son to believe she is shopgirl. but to-
day it is discover that she is the thief.
Diamond Bess. Doctor Qualters-"
"Symington Qualters, the alicnist:"
the captain, and the wom-
ans eyes turned TO his.
But. yes, Msieu. He is to take |
her tonight to his sonitarum in the
and hill her. but an hour ago |
word came from M'sieu Horace Bel
lows. who has what you call stool
peegeon' at your police headquarters,
that all is known end we must es-
cape Me. am in the way. they |
have lost the big inheritance and so
Doctor Qualters stab mer,with some I
small instrument from his case, but
l do not think he is so good a sur
geon as poisoner. for | live TO talk
still little, eh?" She paused, strug.
Cling for breath. and Trevor drew out
his handkerchief and wiped the frotl !
from her lips. :
: "Stool-pigeon at headquarters "
The captain muttered, and turned to
the man beside him. Dan. find the
nearest telephone in this house and
caH them up downtown. The sooner
they get the news the better"
There was an interval while the po
lice surgeon examined the woman. adj
ministered restorative to her and saw
thct she wns made easier with cnshinns