Doors of the Night Part 34

It was strange and very curious. He opened his eyes. He was in bed, and someone was sitting there very quietly, with head bent over and resting on the back of his outstretched hand. He tried to remember. He should have been on the floor in the den, shouldn't he? And where was the Rat?

Had they got the Rat? His eyes opened a little wider. That dark head there seemed strangely familiar. His side hurt him brutally. He remembered that shot now. A sort of grim humor came upon him. He was back where he had started from on that first night in the underworld-in bed with a pistol-shot wound. The Rat must have got him after all. But the Rat-the Rat! He started up in bed involuntarily.

There came a little cry. The dark head was raised. It was the Woman in Black. No, that wasn't her name. It was Margaret-Margaret Blaine. He wanted to call her that. He tried to speak. He was very weak.

"You mustn't try to move," she said softly. "You have been very badly hurt, though, thank G.o.d, not dangerously so. And it's all right-I know you want to know that. They've got the Rat-for the murder of David Ellsworth. We heard it all last night, and did not dare to move while he kept that revolver on you, and I was mad with fear."

"Yes," said Billy Kane weakly. "It's morning now, isn't it?"

Cool fingers closed his lips.

"Yes, but don't talk," she said, with a sudden attempt at severity-and, as suddenly, her eyes filled with tears. "Oh, I did not know last night-I did not understand-and you risked your life to save mine."

Her life! He was not so weak but that he could understand that. His hand groped out for hers. It seemed as though he had always loved her-only those strange doors of the night had stood between. But now-now there was something in her eyes, behind that film of tears and those wet lashes, that made him dare.

"Your life! Would you trust me with it again-for always?" he whispered.

Again the cool fingers closed his lips.

"Billy, you are to be absolutely quiet," she said. "Those are the very strictest orders."

But her head was nestling on the pillow against his cheek, and there was a great gladness in his heart.

THE END