Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

228 THE ARGOSY. chaffing her hands and doing his mortal best to bring her back to conscious- ness again. " Struthers did not answer; his ready wit had guessed the truth. Like a flash he blew out ihe lamp, only a faint ray of light coming in from the hallway beyond; and quickly and noiselessly he stepped out through the French win- dow, revolver in hand, and looked eagerly about. He stood still a moment till his eyes should grow accustomed to the dark- ness without. | A pale new moon glowed faintly in the heavens and served to throw great ghostly shadows from every tree and shrub. His attention was caught by a marble statue a little way out on the terrace. The curious thing about it was that whereas all the other statues scattered about cast but a single shadow, this one seemed to have two, and at right angles to each other. “ Very curious,” thought Struthers, as he advanced cautiously towards it. I wonder if it’s an optical delusion, or a freak of nature, or—ah, I thought so! ”’ The odd shadow had suddenly expanded, and was now flying across the open with what looked suspiciously like a pair of legs. Without a moment’s hesitation, Struthers took aim in the uncertain light and pulled the trigger. There was a flash, a sharp report, quickly followed by acry of pain, and the flying shadow collapsed. “ Winged him,” thought Struthers as he rapidly made his way across the lawn. But quick as he was, he was too late; the figure got on its feet again some- how and staggered into the shrubbery near by, and was lost to view. It would have been impossible to have tracked the unknown one, for the shrubbery was dense, and covered a considerable area. Still, the Englishman beat about through the bushes for some moments in the hope that the wounded man might have fallen in his tracks. At last he gave up his search and went back to the house. He found Cottrell and the girl Anne working over the countess, who was just regaining consciousness. A faint sigh escaped her, and presently she opened her eyes and met the anxious gaze of her secretary. “What has happened?” she asked faintly. ‘ Why are you all so——” A sudden recollection came to her. “Oh, I remember!” And she fell to shuddering, as though taken with the ague, while at the same fime she covered her face with her hands as though to shut out some fearful sight. Poor Cottrell thought she must be out of her mind, and looked piteously at Struthers. The Englishman came up to him. “ She saw a face at the window, I think,” he whispered in his ear. ‘“ We must get her to tell us who it was.” “My poor child! ” said Cottrell, gently bending over the countess. ‘“ The manisgone. ‘There is nothing to fear! ” With an effort the girl controlled her emotion and sat up. “ You must think me a fearful coward,” she murmured, a tinge of color in her pale cheeks, “ but it shocked me so, it was so unexpected, and the expres- sion on his face so frightful! ” and in spite of herself she trembled like a leaf. GONG OOO UN ceo