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
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
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