e day,
and I'll be fairly safe once more. And if things get hard, I'll motor
over to Staten Island and take Miss Marne's sister out again. That
experiment helped a lot yesterday."

He went through the rooms, putting up shades and pushing back
curtains and switching off electric lights. His face was white and
haggard and in his eyes still lingered the look of wild anxiety which
had filled them for so many hours. With hands that trembled he poured
another glass of brandy and soda. As he passed the door of his chamber
his step lagged, he turned and looked in.

"No! No!" he cried harshly, and tried to walk on. But his feet were
like lead and held him there. Once more his body stiffened for battle,
his teeth ground together and his lips shut in a straight, hard line.

He staggered a little way toward the bed, trying to hold himself back,
as if he were wrestling, with all his remnant of strength and will,
against some immaterial, compelling force. Striking out with one fist,
as at some foe beside him, he shouted thickly, "Go! Go back, I say!"
And with a supreme effort he wheeled about and with uncertain, heavy
steps moved back toward the door.

"I will not! I will not!" he muttered, his voice unsteady and
anguished. From his face had faded the determined look and his eyes,
glassy and staring, were turned upward in terrified appeal.

Even as he spoke his feet once more refused to move. They seemed
rooted to the floor, but his body, though he tried his best still to
face toward the entrance, turned again toward the bed. He caught at
the door and braced himself against it for a moment. Then his grasp
weakened and his arms fell down.

The clutching will that was battling with his moved him one step, and
then another, toward the end that he feared, though he strove so
fiercely against it that the sinews of his neck seemed about to burst
through their restraining skin. Stiffening his body, catching at
chairs and tables and putting all his strength into the effort to hold
his feet firm upon the floor, he fought with the intangible force that
gripped him.

[Illustration: HE SANK FACE DOWNWARD UPON THE BED]

"I will not! I will not!" he gasped; and with a mighty effort tore
himself from his bonds and rushed toward the door. But again viewless
hands seized him and turned him suddenly about. His haggard face
flushed to a dull red and beaded with sweat as he fought with the
unseen power that impelled him, step by step, across t