oks. The hair that fell away loosely from her broad forehead was black and straight, showing only here and there a thread of silver. The large hands lay limply open, a

e is dead?" Lady

nd listened to her heart. I was not sure, but it seemed to me that it beat faintly

mirror?" I asked

me back to me with uncomprehending eyes. "No

urned on the bare white boards of the floor, a

r to it, half forcing her down into it. She sat very

ness of a home. White, starchy curtains were at the windows; the walls were fairly covered with pictures, colored prints for the most part, and supplements of Sunday papers. A bird-cage had hung in one corner, and now lay, cage and bottom fallen apart, upon a muddle of seed and water; and a frightened canary perched upon the leg of a fallen table, blinking

evidently very drunk; for the whole place reeked sourly of alcohol. I pulled at his shoulder, turning him half over. For half a minute I held him so, then let him fall back as I had found him. I glanced behind me to be sure that the door was shut. The man on the bed muttered thickly, shifting his position; and something thudded upon the floor, and rolled to my feet. It was a short bit of iron, rather more thick at one end than at the ot

"I'm sure I can help in some way. You

of death; and yet I was almost sure that the woman was alive. Nevertheless, it wa

ht," I cried.

you s

olut

God!" Lad

I. "What are

had better do? Is ther

quickly. "I should say the first thing would be to

one we must do ourselves. I came here to t

said I, surprised, "but somebody ought to be arres

He is like that when he has been drinking. Sheila w

eil

ore us. "That is Sheila," she

an I had thought; not beyond my strength, but more t

eur," I said. "He can

rather he di

t her down; and we can't do anything

bed in that ro

e will be all right on

er lap as I laid her down upon it. I raised the little window, and looked down into

chauffeur! Leave the

lf from the shadow of the car

here; we

I watched him angrily, but after a moment he cross

I said, as I turned from the window. "I t

akes you think so?" s

ead, but did

"but you are right. Her

What?" I cried. "Was he by

n lying upon the bed in the inner room was the man whom I had seen at the inn bar, th

n the hall, puffing a

raid for my life below; and this i

here, and Miss Tabor has come to take her away

I opened the door, closi

Miss Tabor. "You are to help Mr.

d she was ill." He glanced about the clean little room, disordered by the v

ointed to the dark

"is none of your business.

reen. "It's blood," he

hat's all. At any rate, we are going to take her where she can be

ow shook

ly. "There has been murder done.

u heard what Mr. Crosby said. Yo

lready. A fine district this is for this hour of the night, with cut-throats asl

the kind," I retorted.

an, what with a fly-by-night sawbones living in my garage, and all sorts of strange folks going and coming at the house, and c

peated-a sound betwixt a groan and a growl.

ore him. I turned the key in the door, and placed my back against it. From within the growls

your car and start the engine. I wi

n hesi

and turning, clattered down the stairs as if the devil were after

?" she w

ent over to tak

We can't leave the bird loose.

ly to the floor. Lady stretched out her hand for the bird, but it fluttered off frightened to the geranium plants. A thud came against the locked door, a

I said. "I'll

eft the room, a lower panel splintered. We fairly ran down-stairs, fearful every moment that the door would not hold long enough; for the whole building see

the knot of roughs that had gathered peering an

ied. Lady slipped pas

to me,"

urned to the chauffeur in a fury, for the engine was not running. He was fum

you fool!

I slapped the word short with a swing of my open hand across his mouth. Without a wor

ammed it into its socket, I heard Lady's voice at my shoulder. She

you mak

engine started with a snort and a howl. The crowd had begun to mutter threa

houted hoarsely. "Po

istle; and along with it, a stumbling clatter from the tenement hallway, and Carucci, a gre