Page:Restless Earth.djvu/223

“Who is it?” he called, his voice shaking like that of a frightened child.

The door opened slowly.

Grace, clad only in a night-gown, her hair held back by the wide bandage which concealed the upper half of her face, stood in the doorway holding out to him bare, appealing arms.

Harley’s jaw dropped. He rapped his knuckles sharply upon the window ledge to assure himself that he did not dream.

“Grace!” he ejaculated, unable to believe his eyes.

“Jimmy!”

The blind woman crossed the room as though she saw, and Patricia rolled from her path with difficulty as she passed the table. She walked unhesitatingly to where her husband stood in helpless amazement; then her arms moved uncertainly.

“Jimmy, where are you? I can’t see you. I’m blind.”

For another moment Harley stood petrified; then understanding came to him. This was his happiness to which he was bidden to come!

With a swift movement he gathered the blind woman into his thin arms. His gaunt, unshaven cheek caressed her hair, and he sobbed.

“Grace! Oh, my dear!”

Patricia lay still and silent beneath the table. Her cup of sacrifice was full, and running over.

****

Roy, the taxi-driver, in his place of concealment just outside the wmdow, relaxed with a sigh of relief. He had been in the very act of poising himself preparatory to springing through the broken window when Grace had spoken and Harley had paused in his murderous action.

He had not exactly relished the idea of braving splintered glass.

“Cats!” he chuckled, as he crept away on hands and knees in search of the pistol and clip. “Cats is right! Nine lives!”