"Persons Unknown"

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!

[Illustration: Suddenly she flung one arm up and out in such a strange and splendid gesture, of such free and desperate passion, as Herrick had never seen before]

CONTENTS

BOOK FIRST

THE SHADOW ON THE BLIND

I WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT 3

II HERRICK FINDS A DOOR BOLTED 7

III SOMETHING ELSE IS FOUND 12

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 DÉSIR--" 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

XI THE ARM OF JUSTICE ON CLEANING DAY: AN OVERTURE TO A COMIC OPERA 334

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