The Yale expositor., 1908-04-24


roof and perhaps reach the street"
She moved quickly across the room
and the man followed, swinging the
stein to his side. The girls fingers
ran along the wall, and something
clicked. A door, large enough TO pass
through by STOPPING, opened. The girl
stepped through and the man followed,
closing the door. Hardly had 1t
clicked to than there came a crash
from behind which told them that
their pursuers had broken into the
room.
The girl took the mans hand and
led the way through pitchy darkness
A few steps and they began to mount
a fight of stairs. Stumbling, some
times almost falling, they climbed up
ward. At landing that marked
turn in the stairs they heard their
pursuers begin to stumble up after
them. Another long flight and they
were near the top, where small win
dow let in pale, dingy light.
Suddenly the man tripped and fell,
dragging the girl down with him. BY
the time they had regained their feet
their two pursuers were only few
steps below them. Both held knives.
With click of his teeth the man lift
ed the stein to his shoulders; IL swung
down and one of the men tumbled over
silently. The other paused, wheeled
and tried TO run down the steps. The
stein caught him on the neck. With
scream he fell and rolled humping
down the stairs.
The girl and the man turned into
| hall and began to mount another
| fight of stairs. Startled calls came
from various parts of the house and
man ran down the hall. He caught
sight of the two fugitives and ducked
into room. The next instant there
were steps on the stairs behind them.
At the top was another hall, long
and narrow, running the entire length
of the house. A ladder at one end led
through a square opening in the cell
ing.
1.-The roof" exclaimed the girl.
The man nodded and they ran
towards the ladder. The girl mounted
|
food of light poured down upon them
and the girl stepped to the ROOF
through a trap door she had opened
The roof was fat, with three big chin
neys rising near them.
The girl pointed TO where the mar
could see the ends of another ladder
projecting above the gutter. ut leads
to the street; they keep it there fol
emergencies" she said
AS she spoke she took several hu-
ried steps forward and suddenly fell
The man slipped his hand round hel
waist and helped her to her feet, bu
when he took his arm away she slipped
down again.
my ankles strained" she said
} turning up to his eyes white face. :
can't walk. but don't stay here; the,
won't hurt me-"
The man dropped the stein AM
picked her up in his arms. His ey'
fell on the three chimneys and h
staggered behind them, carrying tn
girl.
head was thrust through the ira
door and a man climbed to the roof
: two others followed him. They race
to the ladder, passing the two fug
tives. and looked down. After
, glance they ran towards a part OF tn
A roof shut off from their view by a
attic-like projection, used for sunnin
4 carpets and bed linen.
J AS soon as they were out of sigh
| IA
!. girl in his arms AS swiftly as poss
y BILE he began to descend, supportin
the girl and clinging to the ladder d
best he could. He expected every II
= slant to see head peer over the gu
!. ter and feel the ladder thrown dowl
!, but at last-after an age, it seemed
. he stepped to the ground.
He was in a narrow alley, and at on
end he could see a quiet street an
= the comforting sight of policema
: lolling against a telephone post. n
: set the girl on a dry patch of groun
and leaned against a tall fence tia
. bordered the alley to regain b
: strength and breath. The girl sat wit
her hands interlocked, her eyes c
the ground. ne man ioOhcu iIOh Nv
to the street
!. AS he leaned against the fenc
II drawing in deep breaths, his hands
. his pockets. his fingers met on som
= thing stiff and ohlong After feelir
u il for several moments in sub-co
e scious effort to determine what 1t wa
% he remembered, and drew II out
'e was the card the girl had cut, the b
o OF pasteboard that had saved his III
"a He drew II out with the back towart
g him and slowly reversed 1t. When
"a saw the face he started sharply.
"a Ii was the deuce OF hearts. Fl
"a some time he stood silently looking
N the card, then stopped down al
kissed the girl.