t once. Evidently the writer either believed or knew for certain that she would shortly be disturbed. There was no fireplace in the bedroom. Even though she tore the note into bits, some of the sc

ngers tore the pape

re of you," she said, gazing down on the little pile of

amas, bedroom slippers and toilet accessories, among which was a new toothbrush in a case.

nk, when she decided to leave it open. The Janet Jordan she was portraying had never waked up at the famous meeting of last week. That Janet would feel outraged at her imprisonment, her father's seeming callousness and would naturally be furious at being packed u

over in her mind the new vistas opened up by this mysterious note she had just destroyed. As she dissected it word by wor

s, while seeming most charming and courteous, had nevertheless suggested the hot lemonade which the note told her not to drink. It was quite likely that her unknown adviser had reason to think that the lemonade would be drugged. And then these people co

an, the knowledge that such a visit was planned and success arranged for by means of a drug, would have been torture. But Dorothy, who could feel "Flash" in his holster just above her knee was merely worried for fear that lemonade or no lemonade she would fall asleep. The arrival here had been uneventful enough after wh

gave her the orders he had promised, and she could carry them out and get away from this

on which stood a steaming tumbler, a bowl of sugar, two spoons and a napkin. "Your hot lemonade, Miss Jordan," he announced in his pompous voice and rather as

hank you, Tunbridge, I'll

night,

on of the stairway, and Dorothy cl

ls of sugar into the tall glass. It was too hot for anyone to

o bed, picked up the glass and stirred her lemonade, making sure that the spoon tinkled against the g

her light now, and still holding the lemonade she got quickly and quietly out of bed. A silent trip to the bathroom in the dark and she emptied the lemonade into her washbowl

tomed to the gloom. In the wall just beyond the foot of the bed was the closed door of her closet. The trunk stood beyond that in the corner. The alcove and window seat took up a large section of the farther wall and in the corner, diagon

ore had taught Dorothy that keys may be turned from the outside with a pair of small pincers. Her mind now set itself on the key in the door. In vain she listened for the

he rug. Instantly she was wide awake and her hand beneath the blankets drew her throwing knife from its she

rothy closed her eyes. For a moment it rested upon her face and she hea

ug in the lemonade must have been a strong one, for it was evident that the intruder had no fear of her awakening. Without wa

it was fully half an hour before her hostess finished with the trunk. Next she overhauled the small travelling bag and the purse. Then the empty drawers of the dressing table and desk came under th

can't be the note I got tonight. She proposed the lemonade before that could

was now facing the wall. For a moment she gazed down on the girl, then her hand crept un

did not move. Presently sheet, blankets and silk comfort were replaced and the woman l

hear the door open and close, but heard nothing. With her face to the wall, she could see nothing. The strain of lying motionless

r window, there was no other sound. She felt nervous and unpleasantly excited. She must know if the door had

on the opposite wall as the closet door swung slowly back,