THE FRIGHTENED WOMAN<br >A CAR came towards the house， its headlights throwing a good<br >light. She touched the door， watching tensely.<br > The gate was tall: number seven was surrounded by a high<br >wall. The light was bright enough for her to see the top of the<br >hedge against the wall， the branches of the tree， even the lawn<br >and the flower-beds in front of the house， but she could not see the<br >dusky man. For the first time since she had seen him， she thought<br >that she might have evaded him. Her heart beat fast with reviving<br >hope as she turned. The fading light of the car lamps showed the<br >bell， the knocker and letter-box， brassy and bright against the<br >dark door. She put her forefinger on the bell.<br > But--the house was in darkness; of course， no one was there.<br > She would wait until someone came， she would wait all night<br >if need be. She...<br > Miss Dyer， came a soft voice， not far away， you are being<br >foolish， very foolish. <br > He was not twenty feet away from her! He stood on the grass<br >beneath the outflung branches of the tree. She could just make<br >out his small， lithe figure. He stood still--no， he moved towards<br >her.<br > It is your own fault， he said， in that soft， lisping voice; we<br >did not wish to harm you. <br > She gasped: Go away! Go away ! <br > That was futile; she hardly knew why she spoke. She stared，<br >transfixed， hemmed in by the porch. If she tried to get away now<br >he would catch her--and this time he would not let her go.<br >Desperately she pressed the bell again， though hope was dead in<br >her heart.<br > There is no one here， he said. His footsteps sounded on the<br >gravel， and she was able to see his face because another ear was<br >approaching and the faint glow of its headlights spread as far as<br >this. The headlights grew brighter; now she could see her perse-<br >cutor clearly， he was only a couple of yards away from her;<br >