Page:Arthur Stringer - The Door of Dread.djvu/103

 What apprehension she knew arose from the question as to how long the first nervous shock of such a wound would eliminate this hairy monster as a factor in her fight for freedom, for she still remembered that she had Keudell to reckon with, and that before all other things she wanted freedom, and nothing but freedom.

The thought of that second enemy steeled her into sudden activity. She crouched back, sweeping the room with one quick and combative stare. Had she found Keudell there, facing her, she could have felt more at her ease. But the discovery that the room was already empty filled her with a sudden unreasoning terror, since it confronted her with a peril that was both unknown and unseen. Keudell, she felt convinced, would never permit her to escape. Things had gone too far. And a Keudell out of sight implied a Keudell maneuvering in some secret manner against her, making ready to confound her with some blow that would be as unexpected as it would be decisive.

Sadie's next move was to swing about and face the open door. But even in that corroding storm of anger at the affronts which had been heaped upon her, much of her native wariness remained with her.