Page:Arthur Stringer--The House of Intrigue.djvu/186

174 made an Annette Kellernian dive through a narrower door on my right, into what proved to be a cloak-room. I swung the door shut after me, and didn't even dare to look out. But I could hear the steps hurry by, loud on the hardwood floor and soft on the rugs.

I knew it was a man who had come in, and come in in a hurry. So while I waited there until the house was quiet again, an idea came to me, and I began to explore that cloak-room. I did it entirely by the sense of touch. I felt and padded about amongst the clothing hanging there until I discovered a fur coat of Hudson seal. I took it down and tried it on. It at least fitted a little better than did Copperhead Kate's black skirt. And a box coat of Hudson seal, I told myself, could cover a multitude of sins. So I put on the suede shoes, took up my bag, and crept out into the hall. There was nothing in sight, and not a sound to be heard.

I tried to move without noise, but my heart was once more in my throat as I slipped out to the street door, opened it, and once more felt the fresh air on my face.

It was so uncommonly good to feel that I scarcely noticed the fact that a fine rain was falling. For as I swung that grilled door softly shut behind me I