Page:Burton Stevenson--The marathon mystery.djvu/28

8 They sprang up the stairs without thinking of the elevator—one flight, two … Higgins began to choke again.

A single door stood open, throwing a broad glare of light across the hallway.

“It’s there,” said Higgins, and stopped to gasp for breath.

The others ran on. For an instant, they stood upon the threshold, gazing into the room—at a huddled form on the floor, with a red stain growing and growing upon its breast—at a woman staring white-faced from the farther corner—a woman, tall, with black hair and black eyes.

Then Godfrey stepped toward her with a quick exclamation of surprise, incredulity, horror.

“Why, it’s Miss Croydon!” he said.