ing. The man straightened and became
motionless, as if startled by some unexpected sound.

Well, perhaps within the next second he knew what had alarmed him; I 'm
sure that I did not. The shadow flashed away from the blind. Then my
scalp tingled and the blood seemed to freeze in my veins.

From within the room there came a most unearthly cry. It was weird,
terrifying, utterly unlike anything I had ever heard--save once. For
it was a repetition of the wild, inhuman note that had thrilled me when
I first dashed open the bath room door the previous night.

The terrible cry was not immediately repeated, but for a while the
utmost confusion prevailed within. I could hear furniture knocked and
slammed about, a tumult of stamping, scraping feet, and once--for the
briefest moment--another shadow was projected upon the blind.

It was a hideous, squat, dwarfish shadow. Two long gorilla-like arms
were upraised in an abandonment of fury. Then came that awful,
blood-curdling scream again, and the shadow's owner seemed to plunge
headlong forward.

Another crash followed. The light was suddenly blotted out. The
silence was once more absolute.

CHAPTER XXII

ASHES OF OLD ROMANCE

It was Friday afternoon when Genevieve started on her mission; the
following Wednesday morning I received a telegram from her announcing
that she would be home that same afternoon. The interim was so
uneventful that my note-book mentions only two incidents as being
worthy of preservation.

Late Friday night the welcome news came to headquarters that Alexander
Burke had been found. He appeared at his lodgings shortly before
midnight, looking wretchedly ill and exhausted. Saturday morning a
physician was called in, and the whilom secretary was not able to
appear upon the streets again until Tuesday. Then it was observed that
a change had come over the man. His impassivity had been penetrated at
last; it could no longer hide a nervousness and apprehension which kept
his head perpetually pivoting in backward glances across his shoulder.

I smiled with satisfaction when Fanshawe told me this.

"Stay with him," I said; "it makes no difference whether or not he
knows that you are always close behind him. In fact, I want him to
know it; I want to break that man, and I will."

The other incident referred to was a meeting I succeeded in securing
between Maillot and Miss Belle--memorable for me as being the first
occasion upon which I