Leave it to me; may
take some time--see you in a day or two'--and he went out.
"I didn't see him for a month--not until two nights ago. He didn't ring
the bell this time. He came in through the window. I thought the catch
was down, but it wasn't. Funny how quick these fellows can see a thing.
As soon as he shut the glass sash behind him he drew the curtains close;
then he turned down the gas. All this, mind you, before he had opened
his mouth. Then he said:
"'Anybody here but you?'
"'No.'
"'Sure?'
"'Yee, very sure.'
"He spoke in a husky, rasping voice, like a man who had caught his
breath again after a long run.
"He turned his back to the window, slipped his hand in his hip-pocket
and pulled out my mother's watch.
"'Is that it, "Doc"?'
"The light was pretty low, but I'd have known it in the dark.
"'Yes, of course it is--' and I opened the lid in search of the old
lady's photo. 'Where did you get it?'
"'Look again. There ain't no likeness.'
"'No, but here are the marks where they scraped it off'--and I held it
close to his eyes.
Pages:
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175