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In�that�semi darkness�the�cat woman�midair.�
showed�as�a�flutter�of�flowing�silk.�She�moved�
with�the�darting�quickness�of�a�cat�springing�on�I�had�thought�of�the�girl!�
its�prey.�She�had�turned�her�head�as�I�crashed�
into�the�room,�and�her�eyes,�catching�the�light�Everything�that�had�happened�had�fitted�
from�the�hall,�glowed�a�pale,�baleful�green,�a�in�with�my�theory�of�the�case,�and�in�that�split�
green�of�hate,�of�tigerish�intensity�of�rage.�fraction�of�a�second�I�knew�I�was�right.�Some�
�flash�of�inner�intuition,�some�telepathic�insight�
Quick�as�she�was,�I�was�quicker.�As�the�converted�a�working�hypothesis,�a�bare�theory,�
light�caught�the�flicker�of�cold�steel�I�flung�her�to�into�an�absolute�certainty.�In�that�instant�I�knew�
one�side,�slammed�her�against�the�wall.�She�was�the�motive�of�the�cat woman,�knew�the�reason�
thin,�lithe,�supple,�but�the�warm�flesh�of�her�she�had�rushed�from�that�other�room.�Jean�
which�met�my�hands�through�the�thin�veil�of�Ellery�had�been�used�by�her�to�bait�the�trap�for�
sheer�silk�was�as�hard�as�wire�springs.�She�Ed�Jenkins,�but�she�had�had�another�use,�had�
recoiled�from�the�wall,�poised�lightly�on�her�served�another�purpose.�She�was�diabolically�
feet,�gave�me�a�flicker�of�the�light�from�those�clever,�that�cat woman,�and�Jean�Ellery�was�to�
cat eyes�once�more,�and�then�fluttered�from�the�die.�
room,�her�silks�flapping�in�the�breeze�of�her�
progress.�Two�hands�shot�from�the�bed�and�I�thought�of�the�girl,�of�her�charm,�her�
grasped�me�by�the�shoulders,�great,�hairy�hands�ready�acceptance�of�life�as�the�working�partner�
with�clutching�fingers.�of�a�crook,�and�I�paused�in�mid�flight,�turned�a�
�rapid�flip�almost�in�the�air�and�was�running�
 Jenkins!�Ed�Jenkins! �exclaimed�a�voice.�madly�down�the�corridor,�toward�the�police.�
I�shook�him�off�and�raced�for�the�door.�There�are�times�when�the�mind�speeds�
From�the�street�below�came�the�sound�of�sliding�up�and�thoughts�become�flashes�of�
tires,�the�noise�of�feet�hurrying�on�cement,�instantaneous�conceptions,�when�one�lives�ages�
pounding�on�gravel.�Someone�dashed�up�the�in�the�space�of�seconds.�All�of�the�thoughts�
front�steps�and�pounded�on�the�door,�rang�which�had�pieced�together�the�real�solution�of�
frantically�at�the�bell.�The�police�had�arrived,�the�mystery,�the�explanation�of�the�actions�of�
excited�police�who�bungled�the�job�of�the�cat woman�had�come�to�me�while�I�was�
surrounding�the�house.�poised,�balanced�for�a�leap�on�the�stairs.�My�
�decision�to�return�had�been�automatic,�
There�was�yet�time.�I�had�been�in�tighter�instantaneous.�I�could�not�leave�Jean�Ellery�in�
pinches.�I�could�take�the�back�stairs,�shoot�from�danger.
the�back�door�and�try�the�alley.�There�would�
The�door�into�which�the�cat woman�had�
probably�be�the�flash�of�firearms,�the�whine�of�
plunged�was�slightly�ajar.�Through�it�could�be�
lead�through�the�night�air,�but�there�would�also�
seen�the�gleam�of�light,�a�flicker�of�motion.�I�was�
be�the�element�of�surprise,�the�stupidity�of�the�
almost�too�late�as�I�hurtled�through�that�door,�
police,�the�flat footed�slowness�of�getting�into�
my�outstretched�arm�sweeping�the�descending�
action.�I�had�experienced�it�all�before.�
hand�of�the�cat woman�to�one�side.
In�one�leap�I�made�the�back�stairs�and�
started�to�rush�down.�The�front�door�flew�open�
Upon�the�bed,�bound,�gagged,�her� Just�a�minute, �he�said,�and�there�was�
helpless�eyes�staring�into�the�infuriated�face�of�that�in�the�booming�authority�of�the�voice�which�
the�cat woman,�facing�death�with�calm�courage,�held�the�men,�stopped�them�in�mid action.
watching�the�descent�of�the�knife�itself,�was�the�
 What�is�this? �he�asked,�and,�with�the�
form�of�Jean�Ellery.�My�hand�had�caught�the�
words,�dropped�his�hands�to�the�table�and�
downthrust�of�the�knife�just�in�time.
began�to�drum�regularly,�rhythmically,�
The�cat woman�staggered�back,�spitting� rummpy tum tum;�rummpy tum tum;�
vile�oaths,�lips�curling,�eyes�flashing,�her�words�rummpy tum tumpty tum tumpty tum tum.
sounding�like�the�explosive�spats�of�an�angry�
 Aw�g wan, �muttered�one�of�the�
cat.�The�knife�had�clattered�to�the�floor�and�lay�
officers�as�he�pulled�me�forward.
at�my�very�feet.�The�green handled�dagger,�the�
jade hilted�knife�which�had�been�taken�from�my�
 Shut�up,�you�fool.�He s�the�mayor s�
apartment.�At�that�instant�a�shadow�blotted�the�
personal�attorney! �whispered�another,�his�
light�from�the�hallway�and�a�voice�shouted:
hands�dragging�me�back,�holding�me�against�
those�who�would�have�taken�me�from�the�
 Hands�up,�Ed�Jenkins!
house.
The�cat woman�gave�an�exclamation�of�
The�word�ran�through�the�group�like�
relief.
wildfire.�There�were�the�hoarse�sibilants�of�
 Thank�God,�officer,�you�came�in�the�many�whispers,�and�then�attentive�silence.
nick�of�time!
  Tis�Ed�Jenkins,�sor, �remarked�one�of�
There�was�the�shuffling�of�many�feet:�the�policemen,�one�who�seemed�to�be�in�charge�
peering�faces,�gleaming�shields,�glinting�pistols,�of�the�squad.� The�Phantom�Crook,�sor,�caught�
and�I�found�myself�grabbed�by�many�hands,�in�this�house�from�which�he�kidnapped�the�girl�
handcuffs�snapped�about�my�wrists,�cold�steel�an �stole�the�necklace,�an � twas�murder�he�was�
revolvers�thrust�against�my�neck.�I�was�pushed,�after�tryin �to�commit�this�time.
jostled,�slammed,�pulled,�dragged�down�the�
The�lawyer s�gray�eyes�rested�on�my�
stairs�and�into�the�library.
face.
The�cat woman�followed,�cajoling�the�
 If�you�want�to�talk,�Jenkins,�talk�now.
officers,�commenting�on�their�bravery,�their�
efficiency,�spitting�epithets�at�me.
I�nodded.
And�then�H.�F.�Morton�walked�into�the�
 The�girl,�Jean�Ellery.�She�is�the�daughter�
open�door,�took�in�the�situation�with�one�glance�
of�Arthur�C.�Holton.
of�his�steely�eyes,�deposited�his�hat�and�gloves�
on�a�chair,�walked�to�the�great�table,�took�a�seat�
The�fingers�stopped�their�drumming�and�
behind�it�and�peered�over�the�tops�of�his�glasses�
gripped�the�table.
at�the�officers,�at�the�cat woman,�at�myself.
 What?
The�policeman�jostled�me�toward�the�
open�front�door.
I�nodded.� It�was�supposed�that�his�child�
was�a�boy,�a�boy�who�died�shortly�after�birth.�As�
The�lawyer�held�up�a�restraining�hand.
a�matter�of�fact,�the�child�was�a�girl,�a�girl�who�
lived,�who�is�known�as�Jean�Ellery.�A�crooked�of�children,�which�would�brand�her�a�criminal,�
doctor�stood�for�the�substitution,�being�paid�a�which�would�be�fatal�if�used�in�connection�with�
cash�fee.�A�nurse�originated�the�scheme,�Miss�the�testimony�of�the�doctor.
Hattie�M.�Hare.�The�boy�could�never�be�traced.�
 Doctor�Drake�demanded�money�for�his�
His�future�was�placed�in�the�doctor s�hands�
silence�and�for�that�paper.�He�demanded�his�
before�birth�and�when�coincidence�played�into�
money�in�cash,�in�a�large�sum.�The�woman,�
the�hands�of�this�nurse�she�used�all�her�
working�with�fiendish�cunning,�decided�to�use�
unscrupulous�knowledge,�all�her�cunning.�The�
me�as�a�cat s paw�to�raise�the�money�and�to�
girl�was�to�be�brought�up�to�look�upon�the�nurse�
also�eliminate�the�girl�from�her�path�as�well�as�
as�her�aunt,�her�only�living�relative.�At�the�
to�apparently�murder�the�man�who�stood�
proper�time�the�whole�thing�was�to�be�exposed,�
between�her�and�his�wealth.�I�was�to�be�
but�the�doctor�was�to�be�the�one�who�was�to� [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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