The moment she could gather her senses sufficiently, she crossed the floor and gazed at the object that lay under the window.
An ordinary newspaper was twisted about it, and when Mrs. Bordine took it in her hand, she realized that the substance was of metal.
Swiftly she unwound the paper.
As she held up her prize an involuntary exclamation fell from her lips.
She held in her hand a glittering dagger, with gold hilt, and point as keen as a briar. It was a beautiful weapon.
There was something in the glitter of the dainty weapon that was fascinating.
The hilt was of gold, and the serpent's head that formed the design held a pair of glittering eyes that made the woman's flesh creep.
"Why was this dropped in here?" uttered Mrs. Bordine, as she laid the ugly, yet beautiful, weapon aside, and went about securing the window against further intrusion.
"August sent it, that horrible man said. If so, why did he not come to the door like a decent person would?"
Sure enough.