When London Sleeps — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

é THE BAITING OF THE TRAP. —«*'121 “Beg pardon, miss,’’ he said, deferentially, ‘‘but — a messenger has just arrived with this note, and bade me give it to you at once, as it isa matter of life and death.”’ Queenie rose hastily, her sweet face paling. Life } and death! What could it mean? She took the letter, tore open the envelope, and, with rapidly beating heart, read as follows: Helliwell Mansion, Pace street, Piccadilly. Dear Madam:—lI regret to inform you that a very serious cab accident has this morning occurred just outside my house. A gentleman was violently thrown out and so seriously injured that it was deemed unsafe to remove him to the hospital, so I had him carried into my dwelling where he is now lying in a pre- carious condition. From his card, I gather that he is a circus performer named David Engleheart. There is no further means of identifying him except an unposted letter addressed to your- self. If he is a friend of yours, please come at once or it may be too late. Yours.sincerely, Mary Sargent. No news could be more terrible than this, coming, — as it did, in the very midst of the happy relief from the anxiety which had been torturing her for Weer past. - She swayed a little and turned so white that Mark Blackwood, who for reasons of his own had remained in the room, thought she was about to faint. ‘(PH xcuse me, miss,’’? he hastened to say, ‘‘but the niessenger is waiting outside in a cab for your answer.” | These words restored the distracted girl partially to herself. Her head was whirling, her heart was _ throbbing wildly. There was but one thing to be done. phe must 8° to him without delay. . i } ‘ j Py iy! mM \\ Law ry ye out! 4 - 4 » 4 i ; Ree Nr, By Vane | “So -eom geeks co , i? - - . ~ - v \, dp Us : . : rk 7 ’ , \, wis frm. «9 v . 4 A’ ‘ees. bbs ' hy ba \ lay. -_ , my \ x id wee