Persons Unknown

  CHAPTER XVII

  HERSELF

  There was no other cab in sight. But fortunately a 'bus was juststarting, and bye and bye he plunged from that into a taxi. All the wayup Fifth Avenue he continued to keep his quarry well in sight; flashingin and out beneath the lamps, the beautiful tall figure sitting lightlyerect and neither shunning nor avoiding the public gaze. At first hethought she had come back to be well in time for to-morrow night, but atForty-second Street she turned toward the depot. She was making for thesame train as himself.

  A policeman, who should have died before he ever was born, let her cabthrough the block and held up Herrick's. He saw with horror that it waspossible he should miss the train. Then, with a thrill of hope, thatthey would probably both miss it. When he got to the depot there was nosign of her. He tore like a madman across the vast stretches and up anddown the flights of stairs by which modern travel is precipitated andcame to the gate. She was inside, just stepping on the last car of thetrain. Officials were shouting at her, enraged, because the train hadbegun to creep.

  "Tickets, tickets!" said the man at the gate. He was resolute, andHerrick had to pick him up and lift him to one side. It took an instant,and now the train was under way. But Herrick, as a free-born maleunhampered even by a suit-case, was privileged to risk his neck, and heflew down the platform and gathered himself to leap upon the car. Hishand was outstretched for the railing but it never reached it. A singlezealous employee plunged at him, roaring. The sound halted his quarry inthe doorway, and when she saw him she stepped back on to the platform ofthe car, bending toward him with a look of eager amusement, and throwingback her veil. And Herrick lost his chance to jump.

  For her face, framed in soft flames of red, of golden fire, was the faceof a stranger. It was extremely lovely, but for one curious defect. Shehad a blue eye and a brown.

  BOOK FOURTH

  THE LIGHTED HOUSE