Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-02-18
NIGHT
AND THE
DAWNING
BY H. M. EGBERT

= n q
myself evenings" sighed Ron
aid Cray, leaning out of the
back window of his bachelor
apartment and surveying the gloomy
flats around him.
Two months before he had been sum
moned home from New Mexico, where
his power dam had made him famous,
to take charge Of the engineering de-
partment Of his company at head
quarters. His salary was ample, he
had wealth, he was only twenty-five !;
yet he had managed to make no ac-
quaintances in the big city.
A free life in the West had made
him different from the average city
bred young man he thought the me-
tropolis stiff and Its people devoid of
interest.
Suddenly. as he leaned out, survey
Ing the huge buildings and specializing
how many thousand lives ran on In
them, light sprang into being In the
building opposite, on the fifth floor,
on level with his. Behind a drawn
shade he saw the silhouette of man.
He was STOPPING over table and,
as Cray watched, he saw the shadow
of woman behind him. Suddenly her
hand plunged downward. The elon-
gated object In 1t looked like a
poniard. 1t struck the man In the side
of the neck and he rolled over.
The woman stood looking at him for
a moment; then, with a gesture of
triumph, she flung the poniard out of
the window, raising the shade lit
tie. Cray heard metallic tinkle In
the court below. Then followed dark
ness.
He leaned out, astounded at what
he had seen and hardly believing It
real. How long he waited he did not
know. Suddenly his bell rang.
He went out into the passage and
saw, standing outside the door, one of
the most beautiful women whom he
had ever met. She was twenty-three or
four. Her eyes cleaned with feverish
intensity, her hair was dlsheveled and
her hands were red.
Save me- Hide me Help me !" She
pleaded.
Cray did not hesitate an instant. He
pulled her through the doorway and
led her to the bathroom. He filed the
basin and washed her hands, drying
them on towel afterward. Then he
took her into his spare room.
you're quite safe here" he sali In
a low voice. Nobody saw you come
In. You can stay as long as you want
to-"
She crouched In corner, glazing at
him like a hunted beast. He hest
tated, then he closed and bolted the
window and withdrew, leaving the
door open.
For half an hour he waited, fear
Ing that he would hear the bolt snap,
that she would try to plunge down IN
20 the court below. But hardly a sound
came from the room. When at last he
returned she was lying on the floor
asleep.
He placed her on the couch and she
did not awaken. Her sleep was Of
profound exhaustion. All night Cray
sat up, waiting. Sometimes he stole
In to look at her, but she never
stirred 1t was not till the sun was
well up that he heard her moving.
She came forward unsteadily and
looked In at him as he sat by the
window.
where am II" she cried. "Who
are your
Cray rose and took her by the
hands. II am friend" he answered.
you are safe here-safe to come or
to 60"
She burst Into hysterical sobbing
When at last he had quieted her the
girl told Cray her story.
Sne hau met man IN ner nome IN
virginia, three months before. He
had asked her TO be MS wire. Her
parents mlstrusted MIN she Followed
MIN steaithlly, TO learn TOO late that
all that mad been said about him was
true. lie was gambler, a swindler.
she remembered those three months
win loathlng. Her horror OF MIN had
grown lie had deceived her with a
mock ceremony, ned TO her-at last
nhe had learned that ne mad wife
already
she had written nome, but her let
ters were returned unanswered She
had nowhere 10 turn' she was ignorant
OF any trade, and the man held her
by his lying promises. He had almost
got his divorce he said he loved her (;
lor her sake ne wouid reform' II only
She wOuid trust hlm'