Kneeling beside him, she had placed her hand upon his breast, when a lurching shuffle in the hall made her recoil.
Stumbling and clinging to the wall for support, Welch reeled in at the doorway, and his drug-dulled eyes burst into sudden flame as they lighted upon her.
"D—— you!" he bellowed. "Got you with the goods at last!"
CHAPTER XVIII.
Unmasked.
Betty sprang to her feet and in a swift inspiration born of her extremity, tottered toward Welch with outstretched arms.
"Help!" she shrieked, her clear ringing voice echoing through the silent house. "Burglars! Thieves! Help!"
Muffled screams answered her from above and lights began to waver down the stairway. Welch seized the girl roughly by the shoulder.
"What's the game!" His thick tones rumbled in her ear, and he pointed with a shaking hand. "Is that your work?"
"They've killed him!" she cried, wrenching herself from his grasp. "I heard a struggle and came down and found him—oh; Mrs. Atterbury! Mrs. Atterbury!"