until he had either obtained the evidence he desired, or
forced from her a confession. What he particularly hoped to find was the
seal with which the death's head impression had been made. He felt
certain that, if this was the woman he sought, she would have this seal
somewhere about her person. It was far too significant a bit of evidence
to be left lying about at home.

But there was always the chance that this woman, who had been so
instantly affected by the ghastly apparition on the screen, the
significant words beneath it, might not, after all, be the right one,
the one he sought. There was always the possibility that the real
criminal, although present in the audience, had made no sign, and that
his companion in the cab might be entirely innocent. As he had told
Baker, it was a chance--a long chance, yet something seemed to say to
him that he had made no mistake in taking it. Now, however, a new
situation had arisen to upset his plans. His prisoner, instead of having
been quieted by the drug he had administered, was apparently becoming
more and more agitated and nervous every minute. Her groans, as she lay
huddled up in the corner of the cab, puzzled him, filled him with vague
alarm. Was it possible that she had a weak heart? Had the sedative he
had given her, harmless as he knew the dose would be to a normal person,
affected her in so unfavorable a way? He took her wrist in his hand, and
felt her pulse. It was quick, indicative of nervous excitement, but
certainly not weak.

"Oh--doctor, doctor, won't you _please_ give me something to make me
feel a little better?" the woman gasped. "It's my heart, I tell you.
I--I can't breathe. I'm suffocating. I must have something at once--some
aromatic spirits of ammonia--some brandy--anything, to make me feel a
little better."

Her earnestness, her trembling voice, her excited manner, all served to
convince Duvall that his companion was really in need of a stimulant of
some sort. He decided to humor her. A dose of aromatic spirits, he
reflected, could do no harm, and would doubtless serve to lessen her
excitement. He leaned out, and directed the driver of the cab to stop at
the nearest drug store.

"Oh--thank you--thank you," the woman gasped. "Tell him to hurry,
please." Then collapsing in the corner of the seat, she closed her eyes
and sat so silent that Duvall began to wonder whether she had lost
consciousness.

The taxicab, meanwhile, had drawn up in front of a dr