ing to keep down a mounting fear, Janet quickened her steps. Then
she stopped abruptly. Just why she did that, she would never know, but
her instinct warned her that someone was near.

She turned toward an office door she had just passed. It was open and a
flood of light poured out to blind Janet's tired eyes. The beam from the
electric torch was so bright it fairly seared its way into her fatigued
mind.

Then the stabbing light vanished and Janet heard a swift movement. A
hard hand was clapped over her mouth and she felt an arm slide around
her neck.

Before she could scream or move, a soft cloth, which reminded her of a
hospital, was slapped against her face and the fumes of ether penetrated
her nose and throat. Janet attempted to struggle but two capable arms
held her fast.

She felt herself losing consciousness. She felt delightfully tired and
dreamy. Once she rallied her senses, but the next time she slipped away
into unconsciousness and her captor, satisfied that she would cause no
trouble for some time, let her fall into a heap on the floor.

While Janet remained unconscious, a lithe figure darted into Jim Hill's
office and the flash sought the drawer into which she had dropped the
manuscript.

A small steel instrument, expertly inserted, forced the drawer open and
the beam of light fell upon the inscription Janet had placed on the
envelope. The intruder's breath was drawn in sharply and it was evident
that this was the property sought.

Removing the envelope and placing it in his pocket, the unknown closed
the drawer and slipped out into the corridor. Bending down over Janet,
the figure vanished. Someone watching closely could have seen it dodge
into the main reception room, but there was no one there to watch--only
Janet unconscious on the floor.

Just how long she remained slumped on the floor she would never know
exactly; probably it was not more than half an hour at the most.

Finally lights penetrated her tired mind and the sweetish smell of the
ether assailed her returning consciousness. Someone was shaking her
gently and someone else was rubbing her arms.

"Wake up, Janet, wake up!" a voice kept repeating.

It sounded strangely like Helen's voice, but Helen, she realized, had
gone home hours before.

"Take a drink of this," another voice commanded and Janet obeyed almost
automatically for she was far from being in full command of her senses.

The cool water, flowing down her aching throat,