ppeared to be a library, while to the left--Donaldson turned his back
for a moment upon Arsdale. And the man, freed from the eyes, threw
himself upon Donaldson's shoulder. The woman shouted a warning, but it
was too late. She clutched at her brother's clothes, pulling with all
her strength, crying,

"Ben! Ben!"

Donaldson slipped upon the polished floor and Arsdale, throwing his arm
about his victim's neck, secured a very effective strangle hold. It
looked bad for Donaldson. On the smooth waxed floor he could secure no
purchase by which to regain his feet and he could not reach the fellow
with either fist. He was as helpless as though he had the Old Man of
the Mountain upon his back. The world began to swim before his eyes;
the cries of the girl to sound in the distance. Then he smelled the
biting aroma of spirits of ammonia and felt the clutch upon his throat
loosen. He broke free, got upon his feet and found Arsdale rubbing his
smarting eyes while the girl stood over him, frightened at what she had
done, with the empty bottle in her hand.

"I've blinded him!" she cried, drawing back in horror.

"Thanks. You 've also prevented him from killing me."

"Don't say that--not kill!"

"But the man is n't responsible."

"That is true, but--even when he is like this he would n't do any harm."

His throat was still sore from the press of the fellow's fingers, but
he nodded politely.

Donaldson perceived that she was fighting off a fear. It made the
danger seem even more imminent. He had noted with surprise that no
servants had appeared. This gave a particularly uncanny atmosphere to
the big house, making it look as deserted as though empty of furniture.

"We must get him upstairs and into bed," she said. "Will you help him?"

The man was choking and writhing upon the floor in his pain. Donaldson
stooped and wiped off his eyes. Then he placed his arm about him and
half dragged and half carried him up the stairs as she led the way.
She preceded them up two flights, switching on the lights at each
landing, and entered a small, simply furnished room in the middle of
the house,--a room, Donaldson was quick to note, having only a skylight
for a window. Here he dashed cold water into the man's face and placed
him on the bed. As soon as the pain subsided, Miss Arsdale
administered two spoonfuls of a darkish brown medicine which seemed to
have instantly a quieting effect.

It was the sight of the bottle t