the lost house-第7部分

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were　not　concealed　by　a　yellow　fog；　was　an　awkward　exercise；　and
decided　that　before　he　made　his　dash　for　freedom；　the　part　of　a
careful　jockey　would　be　to　take　a　preliminary　canter　over　the
course。　Accordingly；　among　party　walls　of　brick；　rain…pipes；
chimney…pipes；　and　telephone　wires；　he　felt　his　way　to　the　wall　of
the　apartment　house；　and　then；　with　a　clearer　idea　of　the　obstacles
to　be　avoided；　raced　back　to　the　point　whence　he　had　started。

Next；　to　discover　the　exact　position　of　the　fire…escape；　he　dropped
to　his　knees　and　crawled　to　the　rear　edge　of　the　roof。　The　light
from　the　back　windows　of　the　fourth　floor　showed　him　an　iron　ladder
from　the　edge　of　the　roof　to　the　platform　of　the　fire…escape；　and
the　platform　itself；　stretching　below　the　windows　the　width　of　the
building。　He　gave　a　sigh　of　satisfaction；　but　the　same　instant
exclaimed　with　dismay。　The　windows　opening　upon　the　fire…escape
were　closely　barred。　For　a　moment　he　was　unable　to　grasp　why　a
fire…escape　should　be　placed　where　escape　was　impossible；　until　he
recognized　that　the　ladder　must　have　been　erected　first　and　the
iron　bars　later；　probably　only　since　Miss　Dale　had　been　made　a
prisoner。

But　he　now　appreciated　that　in　spite　of　the　iron　bars　he　was　nearer
that　prisoner　than　he　had　ever　been。　Should　he　return　to　the　hall
below；　even　while　he　could　unlock　the　doors；　he　was　in　danger　of
discovery　by　those　inside　the　house。　But　from　the　fire…escape　only
a　window…pane　would　separate　him　from　the　prisoner；　and　though　the
bars　would　keep　him　at　arm's…length；　he　might　at　least　speak　with
her；　and　assure　her　that　her　call　for　help　had　carried。　He　grasped
the　sides　of　the　ladder　and　dropped　to　the　platform。　As　he　had
already　seen　that　the　window　farthest　to　the　left　was　barricaded
with　trunks；　he　disregarded　it；　and　passed　quickly　to　the　two
others。　Behind　both　of　these；　linen　shades　were　lowered；　but；　to
his　relief；　he　found　that　in　the　middle　window　the　lower　sash；　as
though　for　ventilation；　was　slightly　raised；　leaving　an　opening　of
a　few　inches。　Kneeling　on　the　gridiron　platform　of　the　fire…escape；
and　pressing　his　face　against　the　bars；　he　brought　his　eyes　level
with　this　opening。　Owing　to　the　lowered　window…blind；　he　could　see
nothing　in　the　room；　nor　could　he　distinguish　any　sound　until　above
the　drip　and　patter　of　the　rain　there　came　to　him　the　peaceful
ticking　of　a　clock　and　the　rattle　of　coal　falling　to　the　fender。
But　of　any　sound　that　was　human　there　was　none。　That　the　room　was
empty；　and　that　the　girl　was　in　the　front　of　the　house　was
possible；　and　the　temptation　to　stretch　his　hand　through　the　bars
and　lift　the　blind　was　almost　compelling。　If　he　did　so；　and　the
girl　were　inside；　she　might　make　an　outcry；　or；　guarding　her；　there
might　be　an　attendant；　who　at　once　would　sound　the　alarm。　The　risk
was　evident；　but；　encouraged　by　the　silence；　Ford　determined　to
take　the　chance。　Slipping　one　hand　between　the　bars　he　caught　the
end　of　the　blind；　and；　pulling　it　gently　down；　let　the　spring　draw
it　upward。　Through　an　opening　of　six　inches　the　room　lay　open
before　him。　He　saw　a　door　leading　to　another　room；　at　one　side　an
iron　cot；　and　in　front　of　the　coal　fire；　facing　him；　a　girl　seated
in　a　deep　arm…chair。　A　book　lay　on　her　knees；　and　she　was　intently
reading。

The　girl　was　young；　and　her　face；　in　spite　of　an　unnatural　pallor
and　an　expression　of　deep　melancholy；　was　one　of　extreme　beauty。
She　wore　over　a　night…dress　a　long　loose　wrapper　corded　at　the
waist；　and；　as　though　in　readiness　for　the　night；　her　black　hair
had　been　drawn　back　into　smooth；　heavy　braids。　She　made　so　sweet
and　sad　a　picture　that　Ford　forgot　his　errand；　forgot　his　damp　and
chilled　body；　arid　for　a　moment　in　sheer　delight　knelt；　with　his
face　pressed　close　to　the　bars；　and　gazed　at　her。

A　movement　on　the　part　of　the　girl　brought　him　to　his　senses。　She
closed　the　book；　and；　leaning　forward；　rested　her　chin　upon　the
hollow　of　her　hand　and　stared　into　the　fire。　Her　look　was　one　of
complete　and　hopeless　misery。　Ford　did　not　hesitate。　The　girl　was
alone；　but　that　at　any　moment　an　attendant　might　join　her　was
probable；　and　the　rare　chance　that　now　offered　would　be　lost。　He
did　not　dare　to　speak；　or　by　any　sound　attract　her　attention；　but
from　his　breast…　pocket　he　took　the　glove　thrown　to　him　from　the
window；　and；　with　a　jerk；　tossed　it　through　the　narrow　opening。　It
fell　directly　at　her　feet。　She　had　not　seen　the　glove　approach；　but
the　slight　sound　it　made　in　falling　caused　her　to　start　and　turn
her　eyes　toward　it。　Through　the　window；　breathless；　and　with　every
nerve　drawn　taut；　Ford　watched　her。

For　a　moment；　partly　in　alarm；　partly　in　bewilderment；　she　sat
motionless；　regarding　the　glove　with　eyes　fixed　and　staring。　Then
she　lifted　them　to　the　ceiling；　in　quick　succession　to　each　of　the
closed　doors；　and　then　to　the　window。　In　his　race　across　the　roofs
Ford　had　lacked　the　protection　of　a　hat；　and　his　hair　was　plastered
across　his　forehead；　his　face　was　streaked　with　soot　and　snow；　his
eyes　shone　with　excitement。　But　at　sight　of　this　strange　apparition
the　girl　made　no　sign。　Her　alert　mind　had　in　an　instant　taken　in
the　significance　of　the　glove；　and　for　her　what　followed　could　have
but　one　meaning。　She　knew　that　no　matter　in　what　guise　he　came　the
man　whose　face　was　now　pressed　against　the　bars　was　a　friend。

With　a　swift；　graceful　movement　she　rose　to　her　feet；　crossed
quickly　to　the　window；　and　sank　upon　her　knees。

〃Speak　in　a　whisper；〃　she　said；　〃and　speak　quickly。　You　are　in
great　danger！〃

That　her　first　thought　was　of　his　safety　gave　Ford　a　thrill　of
shame　and　pleasure。

Until　now　Miss　Dosia　Dale　had　been　only　the　chief　feature　in　a
newspaper　story；　the　unknown　quantity　in　a　problem。　She　had　meant
no　more　to　him　than　had　the　initials　on　her　steamer…　trunk。　Now；
through　her　beauty；　through　the　distress　in　her　eyes；　through　her
warm　and　generous　nature　that　had　disclosed　itself　with　her　first
words；　she　became　a　living；　breathing；　lovely；　and　lovable　woman。
All　of　the　young　man's　chivalry　leaped　to　the　call。　He　had　gone
back　several　centuries。　In　feeling；　he　was　a　knight…errant　rescuing
beauty　in　distress　from　a　dungeon　cell。　To　the　girl；　he　was　a
reckless　young　person　with　a　dirty　face　and　eyes　that　gave
confidence。　But；　though　a　knight…errant；　Ford　was　a　modern
knight…errant。　He　wasted　no　time　in　explanations　or　pretty
speeches。

〃In　two　minutes；〃　he　whispered；　〃　I'll　unlock　your　door。　There's　a
ladder　outside　your　room　to　the　roof。　Once　we　get　to　the　roof　the
rest's　easy。　Should　anything　go　wrong；　I'll　come　back　by　this
fire…escape。　Wait　at　the　window　until　you　see　your　door　open。　Do
you　understand？〃

The　girl　answered　with　an　eager　nod。　The　color　had　flown　to　her
cheek。　Her　eyes　flashed　in　excitement。　A　sudden　doubt　assailed
Ford。

〃You've　no　time　to　put　on　any　more　clothes；〃　he　commanded。

〃I　haven't　got　any！〃　said　the　girl。

The　knight…errant　ran　up　the　fire…escape；　pulled　himself　over　the
edge　of　the　roof；　and；　crossing　it；　dropped　through　the　trap　to　the
landing　of　the　kitchen　stairs。　Here　he　expended　the　greater　part　of
the　two　minutes　he　had　allowed　himself　in　cautiously　opening　the
door　into　the　hall。　He　accomplished　this　without　a　sound；　and　in
one　step　crossed　the　hall　to　the　door　that　held　Miss　Dale　a
prisoner。

Slowly　he　drew　back　the　bolts。　Only　the　spring　lock　now　barred　him
from　her。　With　thumb　and　forefinger　he　turned　the　key；　pushed　the
door　gently　open；　and　ran　into　the　room。

At　the　same　instant　from　behind　him；　within　six　feet　of　him；　he
heard　the　staircase　creak。　A　bomb　bursting　could　not　have　shaken
him　more　rudely。　He　swung　on　his　heel　and　found；　blocking　the　door；
the　giant　bulk　of　Prothero　regarding　him　over　the　barrel　of　his
pistol。

〃Don't　move！〃　said　the　Jew。

At　the　sound　of　his　voice　the　girl　gave　a　cry　of　warning；　and
sprang　forward。

〃Go　back！〃　commanded　Prothero。　His　voice　was　low　and　soft；　and
apparently　calm；　but　his　face　showed　white　with　rage。

Ford　had　recovered　from　the　shock　of　the　surprise。　He；　also；　was　in
a　ragea　rage　of　mortification　and　bitter　disappointment。

〃Don't　point　that　gun　at　me！〃　he　blustered。

The　sound　of　leaping　footsteps　and　the　voice　of　Pearsall　echoed
from　the　floor　below。

〃Have　you　got　him？〃　he　called。

Prothero　made　no　reply；　nor　did　he　lower　his　pistol。　When　Pearsall
was　at　his　side；　without　turning　his　head；　he　asked　in　the　same
steady　tone：

〃What　shall　we　do　with　him？〃

The　face　of　Pearsall　was　white；　and　furious　with　fear。

〃I　told　you〃　he　stormed。

〃Never　mind　what　you　told　me；〃　said　the　Jew。　〃What　shall　we　do　with
him？　He　knows！〃

Ford's　mind　was　working　swiftly。　He　had　no　real　fear　of　personal
danger　for　the　girl　or　himself。　The　Jew；　he　argued；　was　no　fool。　He
would　not　risk　his　neck　by　open　murder。　And；　as　he　saw　it；　escape
with　the　girl　might　still　be　possible。　He　had　only　to　conceal　from
Prothero　his　knowledge　of　the　line　of　retreat　over　the　house…tops；
explain　his　rain…soaked　condition；　and　wait　a　better　chance。

To　this　end　he　proceeded　to　lie　briskly　and　smoothly。

〃Of　course　I　know；〃　he　taunted。　He　pointed　to　his　dripping
garments。　〃Do　you　know　where　I've　been？　In　the　street；　placing　my
men。　I　have　this　house　surrounded。　I　am　going　to　walk　down　those
stairs　with　this　young　lady。　If　you　try　to　stop　me　I　have　only　to
blow　my　police…whistle〃

〃And　I　will　blow　your　brains　out！〃　interrupted　the　Jew。　It　was　a
most　unsatisfactory　climax。

〃You　have　not　been　in　the　street；〃　said　Prothero。　〃You　are　wet
because　you　hung　out　of　your　window　signalling　to　your　friend。　Do
you　know　why　he　did　not　answer　your　second　signal？　Because　he　is
lying　in　an　area；　with　a　knife　in　him！〃

〃You　lie！〃　cried　Ford。

〃YOU　lie；〃　retorted　the　Jew　quietly；　〃when　you　say　your　men
surround　this　house。　You　are　alone。　You　are　NOT　in　the　police
service；　you　are　a　busybody　meddling　with　men　who　think　as　little
of　killing　you　as　they　did　of　killing　your　friend。　My　servant　was
placed　to　watch　your　window；　saw　your　signal；　reported　to　me。　And
I　found　your　assistant　and　threw　him　into　an　area；　with　a　knife　in
him！〃

Ford　felt　the　story　was　untrue。　Prothero　w