Larger Font   Reset Font Size   Smaller Font  

Persons Unknown

Virginia Tracy




  Produced by Roland Schlenker, Mary Meehan and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

  "PERSONS UNKNOWN"

  BY VIRGINIA TRACY

  ILLUSTRATIONS BY HENRY RALEIGH

  NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1914

  Copyright, 1914, by

  THE CENTURY CO.

  Copyright, 1914, by The Ridgway Company

  _Published, October, 1914_

  TO MY FELLOW-CONSPIRATORS HELEN L. KLOEBER AND JESSIE C. SOULE

  When winter's breath was on the pane, Through dusk and snow, wild winds and rain, I fled to your bright hearth again To read about a _Shadow_! You lit the lamp, you brewed the tea, Pulled up the deepest chair for me, And set yourselves to guess and see-- _What ailed that minx, Christina?_

  What Herrick found--what Nancy knew-- Whose motor raced the county through-- What could that harsh Policeman do-- You never failed to argue; Of moonlight, murders, lovers, threats, Vengeance and kisses, siren's nets, And pale, dark men with cigarettes, Not once I found you weary!

  Through broken music, sudden light In the deep darkness, jewels bright, Persons unknown in unknown plight, You still sought _unknown_ persons; Authors, if you would straightway know Where faith and cheer and counsel grow, Suggestions flourish and hints flow: _Go ask my Nancy Cornish!_

  Suddenly she flung one arm up and out in such a strangeand splendid gesture, of such free and desperate passion, as Herrick hadnever seen before]

  CONTENTS

  BOOK FIRST

  THE SHADOW ON THE BLIND

  I WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT 3

  II HERRICK FINDS A DOOR BOLTED 7

  III SOMETHING ELSE IS FOUND 12

  IV HERRICK IS SURE OF ONE THING 14

  V HERRICK READS A NEWSPAPER 19

  VI HERRICK IS ASKED A FAVOR 25

  VII HERRICK HAS A BUSIEST DAY 36

  VIII MRS. WILLING TELLS WHAT SHE KNOWS 51

  IX JOE PATRICK IS DETAINED 58

  X JOE PATRICK ARRIVES 67

  XI PERSONS UNKNOWN 89

  XII HERRICK RECEIVES A TELEPHONE MESSAGE 96

  BOOK SECOND

  THE SHADOW ON THE SCREEN

  I HERRICK PAYS A CALL, AND THE TEA IS SPILT 103

  II IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS ARM IS OUTSTRETCHED 115

  III HERRICK GUESSES AT THE MYSTERY AND GETS IN SOMETHING'S WAY 124

  IV THE MYSTERY PAUSES, AND OTHER THINGS GO FORWARD 133

  V HERRICK HEARS A BELL RING 158

  VI AND HOLDS A RECEPTION AFTER ALL 166

  VII MORNING IN THE PARK: THE SILENT OUTCRY 170

  VIII A GREAT OCCASION APPROACHES AND THE VILLAIN ENTERS 177

  IX PRESTO CHANGE: "OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME!" 184

  X MIDNIGHT IN THE PARK; "JE SUIS AUSSI SANS DESIR--" 190

  XI KEEPING CHRISTINA OUT OF IT 201

  XII AULD ACQUAINTANCE: WHAT CHRISTINA SAW 206

  XIII THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS: THE PRINCESS IN THE TRANSFORMATION SCENE 215

  XIV ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS 219

  XV "WHEN STARS GROW COLD" 222

  BOOK THIRD

  WILL O' THE WISP

  I GLEAMS IN THE RAIN: WHEELER'S STORY 231

  II CORPSE CANDLES IN THE NIGHT: MRS. DEUTCH'S STORY 242

  III SEARCH-LIGHTS FLASHED IN THE EYES: KANE'S STORY 254

  IV A LIGHT ALONG THE ROAD: DENNY GIVES AN ADDRESS 270

  V THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LIGHT: WHERE CHRISTINA WAS 283

  VI THE YELLOW HOUSE AND WHAT THEY FOUND AT IT 292

  VII VANISHING LADY: THE SHADOW AT THE DANCE 298

  VIII JILL-IN-THE-BOX! THE LAST OF THE GRAY TOURING CAR 305

  IX A SIGN IN THE SKY 314

  X "THE OLD EARL'S DAUGHTER": MRS. PASCOE ON FAMILY TIES 324

  XI THE ARM OF JUSTICE ON CLEANING DAY: AN OVERTURE TO A COMIC OPERA 334

  XII THE COMIC OPERA CHORUS: "AND SAID, 'WHAT A GOOD BOY AM I!'" 343

  XIII "WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOR?": A CRIMINAL PERFORMANCE 356

  XIV THE SICILIAN TRAITOR: "YOU THAT CHOOSE NOT BY THE VIEW" 365

  XV ONE WITNESS SPEAKS 377

  XVI THE LAST SHADOW: "LEAVE ALL THAT TIES THY FOOT BEHIND AND FOLLOW, FOLLOW ME!" 380

  XVII HERSELF 385

  BOOK FOURTH

  THE LIGHTED HOUSE

  I THE HOSTESS PREPARING 389

  II THE EXPECTED COMPANY 399

  III THE SHIPS AT ACTIUM 401

  IV TURN, FORTUNE, TURN THY WHEEL-- 423

  V CARNAGE: A COMIC OPERA CLIMAX 433

  VI THE DARKEST HOUR: "OF WOUNDS AND SORE DEFEAT I MADE MY BATTLE STAY!" 447

  VII THE SHADOW'S FACE: BEING ALSO THE FULL STORY OF THE SHADOW'S FLIGHT 459

  VIII IN WHICH CHRISTINA HOPE DOES POSITIVELY REAPPEAR 481