The Vestibule Limited Mystery — page 185: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

176 THE VESTIBULE LIMITED MYSTERY. This Iam about to do when I pause. The voices in the hall have grown louder as though approaching the door. One seems to belong to a female, and it strikes me that I have heard it before—yes, it certainly belongs to Evangeline. To whom is she talking? Ido not seem to know the voice—possibly it is some friend, or a new acquaintance—but why such excitement—unless my ears deceive me, she is cry- ing while she speaks. Really, this is all very odd. Something seems to impel me to listen, even when the precious paper is lying theresalmost within my orasp. Even the Jew has started up, and clutching his chair, turns a startled face toward the door. His hearing must be acute if he distinguishes more than I do, but then the man’s fears may have some- thing to do with it. The sounds still draw nearér—they are now almost at the door. Andrews has turned deadly pale, as I see when I shoot a glance in his direction. He has extended one arm for support, and rests against the wall; his eyes glued upon the door, his ears drinking in the sounds, Mechanically, I pick up the confession, give it several quick folds, and stow it away in my inside pocket. If the worst comes, I have this to hold over the heads of the plotters, and it is an instrument that must force obedience, Somehow, when it has been A EATL I seem to . breathe easier, just as a man, threatened by a storm, reaches shelter, As yet, even the first sus: comicbooks.com