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In the h of relief She was home It

was nearly two o'clock She would sleep till noon, and Saturday and Sunday

would be hers She went up the stairs instead of taking the lift, and

though the hall was dark, she knew her way She unlocked the door of the

apart the door behind her As the act was

ed, she did not notice that

the lock failed to click The ferrule of a cane had prevented that

She flung her wraps on the divan and put the roses in an empty bowl The

door opened softly, without noise Next, she stopped before the htly, detached the tiara of emeralds

and became as inanimate asthe interval of silence was She turned slowly

"Yes, it is I!" said the ain to the azine-revolver She leveled it at him

"Leave this room, or I will shoot"

Courtlandt advanced toward her slowly "Do so," he said "I should much

prefer a bullet to that look"

"I am in earnest" She was very white, but her hand was steady