the lost house-第11部分

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With　the　bar　raised　high；　his　muscles　on　a　strain；　he　stood　alert
and　poised；　waiting　for　a　shot　from　the　room　below　to　call　forth　an
answering　volley　from　the　house…tops。　But　no　sound　came　from　below。
And　the　sharp…shooters；　waiting　for　the　madmen　to　expose
themselves；　held　their　fire。

Ford's　muscles　relaxed；　and　he　lowered　his　weapon。　He　turned　his
eyes　inquiringly　to　the　girl。　〃What's　THIS　mean？〃　he　demanded。
Unconsciously　his　voice　had　again　dropped　to　a　whisper。

〃They're　short　of　ammunition；〃　said　the　girl；　in　a　tone　as　low　as
his　own；　〃or　they　are　coming　HERE。〃

With　a　peremptory　gesture；　Ford　waved　her　toward　the　room　adjoining
and　then　ran　to　the　window。

The　girl　was　leaning　forward　with　her　face　close　to　the　door。　She
held　the　finger　of　one　hand　to　her　lips。　With　the　other　hand　she
beckoned。　Ford　ran　to　her　side。

〃Some　one　is　moving　in　the　hall；〃　she　whispered。　〃Perhaps　they　are
escaping　by　the　roof？　No；　〃she　corrected　herself。　〃They　seem　to　be
running　down　the　stairs　again。　Now　they　are　coming　back。　Do　you
hear？〃　she　asked。　〃　It　sounds　like　some　one　running　up　and　down　the
stairs。　What　can　it　mean？〃

From　the　direction　of　the　staircase　Ford　heard　a　curious　creaking
sound　as　of　many　light　footsteps。　He　gave　a　cry　of　relief。

〃The　police！〃　he　shouted　jubilantly。　〃They've　entered　through　the
roof；　and　they're　going　to　attack　in　the　rear。　You're　SAFE！〃　he
cried。

He　sprang　away　from　the　door　and；　with　two　swinging　blows；　smashed
the　broad　panel。　And　then；　with　a　cry；　he　staggered　backward。　Full
in　his　face；　through　the　break　he　had　made；　swept　a　hot　wave　of
burning　cinders。　Through　the　broken　panel　he　saw　the　hall　choked
with　smoke；　the　steps　of　the　staircase　and　the　stair…rails　wrapped
in　flame。

〃The　house　is　on　fire！〃　he　cried。　〃They've　taken　to　the　roof　and
set　fire　to　the　stairs　behind　them！〃　With　the　full　strength　of　his
arms　and　shoulders　he　struck　and　smashed　the　iron　bar　against　the
door。　But　the　bolts　held；　and　through　each　fresh　opening　he　made　in
the　panels　the　burning　cinders；　drawn　by　the　draft　from　the
windows；　swept　into　the　room。　From　the　street　a　mighty　yell　of
consternation　told　them　the　fire　had　been　discovered。　Miss　Dale　ran
to　the　window；　and　the　yell　turned　to　a　great　cry　of　warning。　The
air　was　rent　with　frantic　voices。　〃Jump！〃　cried　some。　〃Go　back！〃
entreated　others。　The　fire　chief　ran　into　the　street　directly　below
her　and　shouted　at　her　through　his　hands。　〃Wait　for　the　life…　net！〃
he　commanded。　〃Wait　for　the　ladders！〃

〃Ladders！〃　panted　Ford。　〃Before　they　can　get　their　engines　through
that　mob〃

Through　the　jagged　opening　in　the　door　he　thrust　his　arm　and　jerked
free　the　upper　bolt。　An　instant　later　he　had　kicked　the　lower　panel
into　splinters　and　withdrawn　the　second　bolt；　and　at　last；　under
the　savage　onslaught　of　his　iron　bar；　the　spring　lock　flew　apart。
The　hall　lay　open　before　him。　On　one　side　of　it　the　burning
staircase　was　a　well　of　flame；　at　his　feet；　the　matting　on　the
floor　was　burning　fiercely。　He　raced　into　the　bedroom　and　returned
instantly；　carrying　a　blanket　and　a　towel　dripping　with　water。　He
pressed　the　towel　across　the　girl's　mouth　and　nostrils。　〃Hold　it
there！〃　he　commanded。　Blinded　by　the　bandage；　Miss　Dale　could　see
nothing；　but　she　felt　herself　suddenly　wrapped　in　the　blanket　and
then　lifted　high　in　Ford's　arms。　She　gave　a　cry　of　protest；　but　the
next　instant　he　was　running　with　her　swiftly　while　the　flames　from
the　stair…well　scorched　her　hair。　She　was　suddenly　tumbled　to　her
feet；　the　towel　and　blanket　snatched　away；　and　she　saw　Ford　hanging
from　an　iron　ladder　holding　out　his　hand。　She　clasped　it；　and　he
drew　her　after　him；　the　flames　and　cinders　pursuing　and　snatching
hungrily。

But　an　instant　later　the　cold　night　air　smote　her　in　the　face；　from
hundreds　of　hoarse　throats　a　yell　of　welcome　greeted　her；　and　she
found　herself　on　the　roof；　dazed　and　breathless；　and　free。

At　the　same　moment　the　lifting　fire…ladder　reached　the　sill　of　the
third…story　window；　and　a　fireman；　shielding　his　face　from　the
flames；　peered　into　the　blazing　room。　What　he　saw　showed　him　there
were　no　lives　to　rescue。　Stretched　on　the　floor；　with　their
clothing　in　cinders　and　the　flames　licking　at　the　flesh；　were　the
bodies　of　the　two　murderers。

A　bullet…hole　in　the　forehead　of　each　showed　that　self…　destruction
and　cremation　had　seemed　a　better　choice　than　the　gallows　and　a
grave　of　quick…lime。

On　the　roof　above；　two　young　people　stood　breathing　heavily　and
happily；　staring　incredulously　into　each　other's　eyes。　Running
toward　them　across　the　roofs；　stumbling　and　falling；　were　many
blue…coated；　helmeted　angels　of　peace　and　law　and　order。

〃How　can　I　tell　you？〃　whispered　the　girl　quickly。　〃How　can　I　ever
thank　you？　And　I　was　angry；〃　she　exclaimed；　with　self…　reproach。　〃I
did　not　understand　you。〃　She　gave　a　little　sigh　of　content。　〃Now　I
think　I　do。〃

He　took　her　hand；　and　she　did　not　seem　to　know　that　he　held　it。

〃And；〃　she　cried；　in　wonder；　〃I　DON'T　EVEN　KNOW　YOUR　NAME！〃

The　young　man　seemed　to　have　lost　his　confidence。　For　a　moment　he
was　silent。　〃The　name's　all　right！〃　he　said　finally。　His　voice　was
still　a　little　shaken；　a　little　tremulous。　〃I　only　hope　you'll　like
it。　It's　got　to　last　you　a　long　time！〃






End