Warren sheaf., 1903-06-04
CHAPTER XXI
THE ESCApE

E@ + CHAPTER XXI
THE ESCAPE.
For some minutes Job Hendricks
felt too weak to rise from the floor,
where he had flung himself down
over the trap. But soon the sense
that his safety was only temporary
forced him to think of his position,
and drew his attention to the talk
ing that was going on in the room
below.
Still lying there, he peered down
through a crack into the room, and,
as the lamp was lit again, he could
see the two men he judged to be de-
partment officers doing their best to
revive the unconscious Ellison. 'T
may as well not wait until he is able
to explain matters" said Job to him
self, for then he will be able to di-
rect them, and show how I managed
to get out of the ambush. [ only
hope that this time Ellison's agent
will remain unconscious for half an
hour or more.'
He rose unsteadily to his feet, and,
after stretching himself, looked
about him.
The place in which he found him
self, as viewed in the faint light of
small window set high up in the
wall, was filled with rubbish. It
must have been the hospital for all
the old furniture of the establish
ment, and was crowded with legless
chairs, broken barrels, and a pile of
musty lumber that filled the air with
strange, earthly smell.
It would not be safe for him to lin
ger there any longer. Below in the
street the police probably surround
ed the building. He must look for
his way to freedom in other direc-
tions.
He left the dismal place, and, pass
ing through door, found himself
IN long, bare hall, family illumined
by gas light Pickering at the
further end. AS he entered this cor
ridor he saw the shadow of what
seemed to be man reflected on the
further wall. Was this possibly
some one to guard the escapes? Job
turned back, and then saw to the
right Of him spiral staircase of
iron, leading to the upper regions.
Surely in that direction his course
lay, for he knew that by this time
all the approaches to the building be-
low must be guarded.
The reflection of the figure on the
wall at the end of the hall puzzled
him, for it was the shadow of man,
and yet it did not move. He was out
of sight and maintained silent atti-
tude. Job was in a position to take
everything for granted, and had no
desire to go and investigate. He was
pleased that he ha1 not been discov-
cred and that this silent sentry was
either asleep or had not heard him.
Slowly he mounted the stairs, still
keeping his eyes on that silhouette
that was outlined blacl<ly on the
wall.
"Ah, if I only had not been de-
prived of weapon" he muttered, as
with caution he mounted the stairs,
thankful at least that the bogy on
the wall had not shown any signs
of life.
The stairs led him into another
hall, much like that he had just left,
and on each side of it ran long par
titions,- intersected here and there
with doors. He tried one of these,
only to hear a grumbling voice ask
ing what he wanted. He started
away. AS he paused to listen, he
heard snores resounding from vari-
Gus parts of the place. Evidently
most of the dodgers had retired for
the night. Others who had sswork''
would probably not appear until day
break. rs -e
Would it be possible, he thought,
to secrete himself in one of the un-
occupied rooms, and then, when a
chance offered, make his way out Of
the building? Then he figured that
by this time the police would be ac-
quainted with the manner of his es-
cape, and having invested the build
ing on all sides below, would pro-
ceed to investigate the inmates one
by one, as they had done on many a
similar occasion. No, he was not Sc
cure in this precious ''hotel'' at all,
and the only safety for him lay in
getting away as far as possible from
the neighborhood.
Going to the end of the hall where
the window stood open, he peered
down on the street. It was too high
to risk a leap, and, even if such a
thing could be accomplished in safe