The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-30
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Bile her little clock had marked off
The heavy moments Of the afternoon
as blithcly as the moments of hap
pier days.
She opened her door, listened a
moment, and then crept softly down
the stairs to the telephone.
The chatter Of the Stcdway tribe
dressing for the deans rally filled
the upper hall two hours later.
Judith whisked the stopper of "a
perfume bottle across her lips and
hair and twirlcd for the last time
! before the mirror. just as "A taxi horn
sounded from the curb.
! Picking up her cloak, she rushed
down the steps, in swirl Of jade
silk At the front door. she stopped
! long enough to throw the wrap
around her shoulders.
AS she stepped in the cab. she
said to the driver, you have your
ordcrs?"
, The man nodded. "rhc gentleman
gave 'cm to me-"
| They were pulling away from the
house when Judith noticed the
shabby touring car Of DR.. Dorm. She
threw glance at the parl0r win
dows, but there were no shadows
on the blinds.
As they ncarcd the campus it was
necessary to slow down, for streams
Of cars were threading the streets
IL snai's pace.
The parking space near tho
sunken garden was mass Of honk'
ing, shifting automobiles. The ad
minstration building was d blare Of
lights toward which the throng:
were converging. The taxi shot pas
it into Il comparatively open street
in burst of speed.
Judith saw the streets glowing
more and more unfamiliar. They
!. had arrived among the deserted fast
ncsscs Of the warehouse district, il
which the by-ways were narrow ant
hcmmcd in with tall buildings.
Judith sat up uncasily. But before
she could address the driver, tn
I cab had shot into an alley darke
: and narrower than the rest. After ;
. brcathlcss moment of speed, !
\ brought up with jerk under wal
that lowered darkly overhead.
a door opened in the black cx
t panse, revealing an interior diml
: gray, and Judith saw a man ap
! preaching the taxi.
n "Will you be pleased to alight :?
k he asked, stretching out hand il
s the murk. She had never heard tn
voice before.
g The man existed only rs a vagu
9 silhouette in the obscurity Of tn
alley. Judith shrank back slightly
r. ignoring the extended hand.
i The man by the car did not spea
!. again. When She stood on tn
! ground beside him, il was cviden
c that he was many inches above av
It cragc height.
He offered his arm. and, hclplcssls
IS she took it. They began to walk to
G ward the gray opening in the wal
c When they had stepped through il
the man closed and locked the doc
h behind them. In moment Of PAM
& Judith listened to the rctreating roa
n Of the taxicab.
d They were in a gray vcstibul'
from which flight of dimly lightc
y. wooden steps led upward. Judit
e turned to the stranger. and saw tw
o dark eyes. set like brown jewels j
e lean brown face. Closely croppc
n crisp brown curls crowded about tn
II forehead. And on each checkbon
was the vivid red spot that doctor
d so dread to see.
e The man met her eyes and bowe
4 gravely. II am Stephen Klvana," h
said. with a hint of bravado. m
k. Waters sent me to meet YOU"
IA Judith bowed. The name ha
d struck some familiar chord Of men
DRY.
J. He led her in silence up the ricl
e ETY. steps, past several closed woode
doors, and ut last into . great bal
space in ! FAR corner Of which
4 man bent over Z table.
e Judith saw stacks Of painte
screens against the walls. and mad
h out bits Of scenery evidently take
4 from Old stage ssttiags. The III