When London Sleeps — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE ESCAPE ROOM. 189 ‘‘Now, my lady, come here!’? he said, forcing her a little to one side. Hilda was brave enough, but she knew that physi- cally she was no inatch for these two powerful men. “What would you do?’ she asked, her cheeks paling. ‘Wait!’ he answered, roughly, tightening his erasp. ‘‘Mark, open the trap!”’ For an instant, with an inkling of the truth, Blackwood hesitated. Then he flung aside the heavy rug, and, catching hold of an iron ring, raised the trap door. Poor little Lelia tried to reach her mother, but Haynes, with his disengaged hand kept her off. “Seize the child, Mark,’’? he commanded, ‘‘and hold her out of reach.’? Blackwood caught the little girl, careful, however, not to hurt her. “Now, come here!’’ proceeded Haynes, addressing himself now to Hilda. As he spoke he dragged her to the trap, and pointed to the yawning black pit below. “Vou know what that is. A body thrown thee would cause but a splash. There would be none to hear. And soon unknown, unseen, the victim would be carried out to sea, while London is sleeping. ’ Hilda shuddered. “Vou would not murder me!’’ she gasped. “Murder you!’ replied Haynes, with a short laugh. ‘‘No!° For there are those who would miss you. But there is one here who will not be missed, and who will not be inquired for.’ * icboo ° 3 |@) co )