Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-04

asked. 4At once? Very well; I'll
have one of the servants go right up and
open the trap for you. Oh, not at ALL
I'm very glad to help you out of your
predicament." And she laughed again.
Thanking her gratefully, Dozy hung
up, rushed back to his room for his over
coat and hat, and was already half way
up the steps to the roof when it occurred
to him that he had not asked Mrs. Harris
Just where her house stood in the block
He would have to count up till he got to
the number. He appealed to Nose who
stood waiting to follow him up and lock
the trap again.
"Yas, sab; ef it amt de fo'th it's de
fifth, and eff it amt de fifth it's de 70 th,
the old man assured him.
"All right. The trap will be unlocked
Il can tell it that way" said Dozy
"Good night" And he stepped out on
the roof.
TT was a cold night, one of those tag-ends
of winter that often outlast April in
New York, and it was dark, with neither
moon nor stars; but the lights in the
higher buildings in the next block shed
faint illumination on his path. Fortu-
nately, there were no higher buildings in
this block. He had clear way and level,
with no barriers except an occasional low
wall, over which he had only to step.
AS he neared the end of the row of
houses, Dozy stopped and counted. He
had reached the sixth from the corner so
his goal was either the next or the one
after that. All, it was the next! Even
in the dim light he could see that the
trap-door was not only unlocked but stood
open for him. He hurried over to it and
looked down, half expecting to find some
one waiting below to receive him. But
thore was no one; there was not even
light. No doubt the opening to the roof
was through closet with no light fixture.
He began the descent, which was down
steep, ladder-like stair, and when he had
gone far enough he closed the trap and
latched it. With the outdoor light shut
involuntarily he hesitated, listening. But
he could near nothing. Odd, he thought,
that there was no one about-Mrs. Harris
had been so very cordial
At the foot of the steps he stopped
again, and felt in his clothes for matches.
OF course he had none! There was no.
thing to do but feel for the door. 1t was
dusty task but he presently located it
and let himself into the hall; then, closing
the door behind him, he looked about.
A light rose dimly from somewhere be-
low, probably from the street floor three
flights down, for it was barely enough for
him to see his way to the top of the stairs.
Arrived there, he looked down. The hall
below seemed as dark as this one.
He was on the point of calling out to
announce himself, for it was extremely
unpleasant to be cropping his way through
a strange house like burglar, but he
reflected that the family must all be on
the parlor floor, and there was no need
to give them any further trouble on his
account. Descending to the floor below,
he found all the doors closed as above;
but here through the key-hole of one
light showed and as he passed this door
he walked as heavily as possible, hoping
to be heard by somebody. He even
waited for moment or two at the top OF
the next flight of stairs; but no one
appeared.
Impatient, he ran down these steps and