The Dark Star

After a few seconds the door clicked and opened.

"Now, you're all right!" said Lil, peering into the lighted hallway.

"It's on the fourth floor and there isn't any elevator that I can see,

so you keep on going upstairs till your friend meets you."

"Thank you so much for your great kindness----"

"Don't mention it. Good luck, dearie!"

The door clicked behind her, and Rue found herself alone.

The stairs, flanked by a massive balustrade of some dark, polished

wood, ascended in spirals by a short series of flights and landings.

Twice she rested, her knees almost giving way, for the climb upward

seemed interminable. But at last, just above her, she saw a skylight,

and a great stair-window giving on a court; and, as she toiled up and

stood clinging, breathless, to the banisters on the top landing, out

of an open door stepped Neeland's shadowy figure, dark against the

hall light behind him.

"For heaven's sake!" he said. "What on earth----"

The suitcase fell from her nerveless hand; she swayed a little where

she stood.

The next moment he had passed his arm around her, and was half

leading, half carrying her through a short hallway into a big,

brilliantly lighted studio.