"Persons Unknown"
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About This Book
This book is a mystery novel authored by Virginia Tracy. The book begins with the protagonist, Herrick, lying in bed on a hot summer night, unable to sleep. He has a dream in which he is on a beach with his sister and the Heroine of his novel, who holds out a finished copy of the book to him. The dream turns into a nightmare when a fog rolls in and he is confronted by a figure who tells him to "Ask Nancy Cornish." When he wakes up, he is confused about the significance of the phrase and the appearance of Nancy Cornish, a girl he hasn't seen in eight years.
Chapters (128)(click to expand)
- "PERSONS UNKNOWN"
- 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
- BOOK SECOND THE SHADOW ON THE SCREEN
- BOOK THIRD WILL O' THE WISP
- BOOK FOURTH THE LIGHTED HOUSE
- LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
- BOOK FIRST
- THE SHADOW ON THE BLIND
- CHAPTER I
- WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NIGHT
- CHAPTER II
- HERRICK FINDS A DOOR BOLTED
- Not a breath, not a movement, greeted the invaders
- CHAPTER III
- SOMETHING ELSE IS FOUND
- CHAPTER IV
- HERRICK IS SURE OF ONE THING
- CHAPTER V
- HERRICK READS A NEWSPAPER
- CHAPTER VI
- HERRICK IS ASKED A FAVOR
- CHAPTER VII
- HERRICK HAS A BUSIEST DAY
- CHAPTER VIII
- MRS. WILLING TELLS WHAT SHE KNOWS
- CHAPTER IX
- JOE PATRICK IS DETAINED
- CHAPTER X
- JOE PATRICK ARRIVES
- "Mr. Coroner," she said, "I wish to correct a false impression; may I?"
- "'Great Scott!' I says to myself, 'there's Miss Hope!'"
- CHAPTER XI
- PERSONS UNKNOWN
- CHAPTER XII
- HERRICK RECEIVES A TELEPHONE MESSAGE
- BOOK SECOND
- THE SHADOW ON THE SCREEN
- CHAPTER I
- HERRICK PAYS A CALL, AND THE TEA IS SPILT
- CHAPTER II
- IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS ARM IS OUTSTRETCHED
- CHAPTER III
- HERRICK GUESSES AT THE MYSTERY AND GETS IN SOMETHING'S WAY
- CHAPTER IV
- THE MYSTERY PAUSES, AND OTHER THINGS GO FORWARD
- CHAPTER V
- HERRICK HEARS A BELL RING
- "There are detectives shadowing me," Christina said. "Don't deny it—I know!"
- CHAPTER VI
- AND HOLDS A RECEPTION AFTER ALL
- CHAPTER VII
- MORNING IN THE PARK: THE SILENT OUTCRY
- CHAPTER VIII
- A GREAT OCCASION APPROACHES AND THE VILLAIN ENTERS
- CHAPTER IX
- PRESTO CHANGE: "OUT OF THE NIGHT THAT COVERS ME!"
- CHAPTER X
- MIDNIGHT IN THE PARK; "JE SUIS AUSSI SANS DÉSIR—"
- CHAPTER XI
- KEEPING CHRISTINA OUT OF IT
- CHAPTER XII
- AULD ACQUAINTANCE: WHAT CHRISTINA SAW
- CHAPTER XIII
- THE NIGHT OF NIGHTS: THE PRINCESS IN THE TRANSFORMATION SCENE
- CHAPTER XIV
- ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
- CHAPTER XV
- "WHEN STARS GROW COLD"
- BOOK THIRD
- WILL O' THE WISP
- CHAPTER I
- GLEAMS IN THE RAIN: WHEELER'S STORY
- CHAPTER II
- CORPSE CANDLES IN THE NIGHT: MRS. DEUTCH'S STORY
- CHAPTER III
- SEARCH-LIGHTS FLASHED IN THE EYES: KANE'S STORY
- CHAPTER IV
- A LIGHT ALONG THE ROAD: DENNY GIVES AN ADDRESS
- CHAPTER V
- THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LIGHT: WHERE CHRISTINA WAS
- CHAPTER VI
- THE YELLOW HOUSE AND WHAT THEY FOUND AT IT
- Nowhere was there a letter, no significant writing nor any other name.
- CHAPTER VII
- VANISHING LADY: THE SHADOW AT THE DANCE
- CHAPTER VIII
- JILL-IN-THE-BOX! THE LAST OF THE GRAY TOURING CAR
- CHAPTER IX
- A SIGN IN THE SKY
- CHAPTER X
- "THE OLD EARL'S DAUGHTER": MRS. PASCOE ON FAMILY TIES
- CHAPTER XI
- THE ARM OF JUSTICE ON CLEANING DAY: AN OVERTURE TO A COMIC OPERA
- CHAPTER XII
- THE COMIC OPERA CHORUS: "AND SAID, 'WHAT A GOOD BOY AM I!'"
- CHAPTER XIII
- "WILL YOU WALK INTO MY PARLOR?": A CRIMINAL PERFORMANCE
- CHAPTER XIV
- THE SICILIAN TRAITOR: "YOU THAT CHOOSE NOT BY THE VIEW"
- CHAPTER XV
- ONE WITNESS SPEAKS
- CHAPTER XVI
- THE LAST SHADOW: "LEAVE ALL THAT TIES THY FOOT BEHIND AND FOLLOW, FOLLOW ME!"
- CHAPTER XVII
- HERSELF
- BOOK FOURTH
- THE LIGHTED HOUSE
- CHAPTER I
- THE HOSTESS PREPARING
- CHAPTER II
- THE EXPECTED COMPANY
- CHAPTER III
- THE SHIPS AT ACTIUM
- "You fool!" she cried. "You miserable, monstrous fool! Thank God, I've done with you!"
- CHAPTER IV
- TURN, FORTUNE, TURN THY WHEEL—
- CHAPTER V
- CARNAGE: A COMIC OPERA CLIMAX
- CHAPTER VI
- THE DARKEST HOUR: "OF WOUNDS AND SORE DEFEAT I MADE MY BATTLE STAY!"
- CHAPTER VII
- THE SHADOW'S FACE: BEING ALSO THE FULL STORY OF THE SHADOW'S FLIGHT
- "Shall I let her come in? Shall I tell at last what you are, through and through?—"
- CHAPTER VIII
- IN WHICH CHRISTINA HOPE DOES POSITIVELY REAPPEAR
- THE END
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