"All my--papers--are gone."
Miss Cornelia pounced upon this last statement like a cat upon a
mouse.
"How do you know you had papers?" she asked sharply.
For the first time the faintest flicker of a smile seemed to appear
for a moment on the Unknown's features. Then it vanished as
abruptly as it had come.
"Most men--carry papers--don't they?" he asked, staring blindly
in front of him. "I'm dazed--but--my mind's--all--right. If
you--ask me--I--think--I'm--d-damned funny!"
He gave the ghost of a chuckle. Bailey and Beresford exchanged
glances.
"Did you ring the house phone?" insisted Miss Cornelia.
The Unknown nodded.
"Yes."
Miss Cornelia and Bailey gave each other a look of wonderment.
"I--leaned against--the button--in the garage--" he went on.
"Then--I think--maybe I--fainted. That's--not clear."
His eyelids drooped. He seemed about to faint again.
Dale rose, and came over to him, with a sympathetic movement of her
hand.
"You don't remember how you were hurt?" she asked gently.
The Unknown stared ahead of him, his eyes filming, as if he were
trying to puzzle it out.
"No," he said at last. "The first thing I remember--I was in the
garage--tied." He moved his lips. "I was--gagged--too--that's
--what's the matter--with my tongue--now--Then--I got myself
--free--and--got out--of a window--"
Miss Cornelia made a movement to question him further. Beresford
stopped her with his hand uplifted.
"Just a moment, Miss Van Gorder.
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