Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-05-04
CHAPTER 40

STILL NOT knowing where she
could be. Jacqueline thrust a foot
over the side, feeling for the floor,
but found nothing. Then she
turned so that she lay face down.
ward on the mattress, gripping the
edge Of the ledge, and gently low
cred herself. It seemed an i'm
,nense distance, but eventually the
toe Of her shoe touched something
solid. The next moment she was
standing on her feet, her hands
still gripping the ledge that was
now level with her eyes.
She stood very still, listening in
tently, not daring to move. If only
she had light! IF only there were
a faint glimmer somewhere to give
her some sort of guidance!
Then suddenly she thrust her
hand into her pocket and gave a
little gasp Of satisfaction as her
fingers located her cigaret lighter.
She took it out and snapped it
open, rubbing the wheel with her
thumb. There came flash from
the flint, but the wick was dry and
refused to light, and though the
flint spanked a dozen times in rapid
succession, the wick refused to
light. She held the lighter above
her head, stared into the darkness
and thumbed the wheel again. In
the faint light Of the spark she
caught a glimpse of what seemed
to be a door, and, with her hand
outstretched in front Of her, she
went cautiously in that direction,
flashing her lighter as she went.
Her hand found the door, CROPPED
round the handle and turned it.
Very gently she pulled and found
that the door gave. She opened it
a few inches and peered out. A
gust of wind met her. and, glancing
up, she saw the deep blue of the
sky, with sprink1ing Of stars.
She stepped out through the
door, made out the dim outline of
a fight of steps on her left, and
moved cautiously toward it. There
was an iron handrail beside the
steps, and, as she gripped it and
placed her foot on the first step,
she paused suddenly and caught
her breath.
On the top Of the steps, silhou-
cited against the sky, a figure was
seated. AS Jacqueline moved, the
beam of a f1ashlight stabbed the
darkness, shining full on her face
and dazzling her.
$50 you've come to, dearie, ave
yer?" said voice. It was a
rough, uncouth voice, but it was a
woman's voice, and Jacqueline felt
q sudden rush of relief. "And
where will yer be goin' now,
dearie ?" asked the voice.
Jacquel,ne blinked into the
dazzling beam Of the torch, trying
to catch a glimpse Of the speaker.
''Who are you?" she asked.
''Who am T.? Joplin's nay name,
dearie-Mrs. Joplin. Pleased ter
meet yer, I'm sure"
"But II don't know you. I've
never seen you," exclaimed the
girl.
PLEASED ter meet yer, all the
same" said Mrs. Joplin amiably.
"And as for seeing Newell, ave
a look at me now, dearie, an get
it over quick" She turned the
fiashlight upon herself.
Mrs. Joplin's face, revealed by
the beam of light, was not a beau
tiful face. It was heavy and
feshy, with small, beady eyes be-
meath an untidy mass of greasy
black hair, and with a mouth
whose size, to say nothing Of the
distinct suggestion of a n1ustacfe
on the upper lip. must have de-
tered Mrs. Joplin, had her
thoughts turned in that direction,
from entering her name in any
beauty competition. Jacqueline
could not see the body to which
the face was attached, but she got
the impression that it must be q
short, thick-set body, with ample
bosom, broad. hips, and arms and
legs fashioned more for service
than for aesthetic effect. At the
moment, the face was pleated into
. smile, and though the result of
the p1eating was the exposure Of a
particularly unattractive set Of
discolored teeth, the smile seemed
to Jacqueline to be a not unfriend-
ly one.
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