第5章

"Isthatdoorlocked？"

"No，"thegirltoldhim。"Butthedoorfromitintothehallisfastened，liketheother，withaspringlockandtwobolts。"

Fordcautiouslyopenedthedoorintotheroomadjoining，and，exceptforabedandwash—stand，founditempty。Ontiptoeherantothewindows。SowellStreetwasdeserted。HereturnedtoMissDale，againclosingthedoorbetweenthetworooms。

"Thenurse，"MissDalewhispered，"whensheisonduty，leavesthatdooropensothatshecanwatchme;whenshegoesdownstairs，shelocksandboltsthedoorfromthatroomtothehall。It’slockednow。"

"What’sthenurselike？"

ThegirlgaveashudderthatseemedtoFordsufficientlydescriptive。Herlipstightenedinahard，straightline。

"She’snothuman，"shesaid。"Ibeggedhertohelpme，appealedtoherineveryway;thenItriedadozentimestogetpasthertothestairs。"

"Well？"

Thegirlfrowned，andwithagesturesignifiedhersurroundings。

"I’mstillhere，"shesaid。

Shebentsuddenlyforwardand，withherhandonhisshoulder，turnedthemansothathefacedthecot。

"Themattressonthatbed，"shewhispered，restsontwoironrods。

Theyarelooseandcanbelifted。Iplannedtosmashthelock，butthenoisewouldhavebroughtProthero。Butyoucoulddefendyourselfwithoneofthem。"

Fordhadalreadyruntothecotanddroppedtohisknees。Hefoundthemattresssupportedonstripsofironrestinglooselyinsocketsattheheadandfoot。Heraisedtheonenearerhim，andthen，afteramomentofhesitation，letitdropintoplace。

"That’sfine！"hewhispered。"Goodasacrowbar。’"Heshookhisheadinsuddenindecision。"ButIdon’tjustknowhowtouseit。

HisautomaticcouldshootsixtimesbeforeIcouldswingthatthingonhimonce。AndifIhaveitinmyhandswhenheopensthedoor，he’llshoot，andhemayhityou。ButifIleaveitwhereitis，hewon’tknowIknowit’sthere，anditmaycomeinveryhandylater。"

Incompletedisapprovalthegirlshookherhead。Hereyesfilledwithconcern。"Youmustnotfighthim，"sheordered。Imean，notforme。Youdon’tknowthedanger。Theman’snotsane。Hewon’tgiveyouachance。He’smad。Youhavenorighttoriskyourlifeforastranger。I’llnotpermitit"

Fordhelduphishandforsilence。Withajerkofhisheadhesignifiedthedoor。"They’vestoppedtalking，"hewhispered。

Strainingtohear，thetwoleanedforward，butfromthehalltherecamenosound。Thegirlraisedhereyebrowsquestioningly。

"Havetheygone？"shebreathed。

"IfIknewthat，"protestedFord，"wewouldn’tbehere！"

Inanswertohisdoubtasmartrap，asthoughfromthebuttofarevolver，felluponthedoor。ThevoiceofProtherospokesharply:

"You，whocallyourselfGrant！"heshouted。

Beforeanswering，ForddrewMissDaleandhimselfawayfromthelineofthedoor，andsoplacedthegirlwithherbacktothewallthatifthedooropenedshewouldbebehindit。"Yes，"heanswered。

"PearsallandI"calledProthero，"havedecidedhowtodisposeofyou——ofbothofyou。Hehasgonebelowtomakepreparations。Iamonguard。Ifyoutrytobreakoutorcallforhelp，I’llshootyouasIwarnedyou！"

"AndIwarnyou，"shoutedFord，"ifthisladyandIdonotinstantlyleavethishouse，orifanyharmcomestoher，youwillhangforit！"Protherolaughedjeeringly。

"Whowillhangme？"hemocked。

"Myfriends，"retortedFord。"TheyknowIaminthishouse。TheyknowWHYIamhere。UnlesstheyseeMissDaleandmyselfwalkoutofitinsafety，theywillneverletyouleaveit。Don’tbeafool，Prothero！"heshouted。"YouknowIamtellingthetruth。Youknowyouronlychanceformercyistoopenthatdoorandletusgofree。"

ForoveraminuteFordwaited，butfromthehalltherewasnoanswer。

Afteranotherminuteofsilence，FordturnedandgazedinquiringlyatMissDale。

"Prothero！"hecalled。

Againforafullminutehewaitedandagaincalled，andthen，astherestillwasnoreply，hestruckthedoorsharplywithhisknuckles。OntheinstantthevoiceoftheJewrangforthinanangrybellow。

"Keepawayfromthatdoor！"hecommanded。

FordturnedtoMissDaleandbenthisheadclosetohers。

"Now，whythedevildidn’theanswer？"hewhispered。"Wasitbecausehewasn’tthere;orisheplanningtostealawayandwantsustothinkthatevenifhedoesnotanswer，he’sstilloutside？"

Thegirlnoddedeagerly。

"Thisisit，"shewhispered。"Myuncleisacowardorratherheisverywise，andhasleftthehouse。AndProtheromeanstofollow，buthewantsustothinkhe’sstillonguard。IfweonlyKNEW！"sheexclaimed。

Asthoughinanswertoherthought，thevoiceofProtherocalledtothem。

"Don’tspeaktomeagain，"hewarned。"Ifyoudo，I’llnotanswer，orI’llshoot！"

Flattenedagainstthewall，closetothehingesofthedoor，Fordrepliedflippantlyanddefiantly:

"Thatmakesconversationdifficult，doesn’tit？"hecalled。

Therewasaburstingreport，andabulletsplinteredthepanelofthedoor，flatteneditselfagainstthefireplace，andfelltinklingintothegrate。

"IhopeIhityou！"roaredtheJew。

Fordpressedhislipstightlytogether。Whateverhappyretortmayhaverisentothemwasforeverlost。Foranexchangeofrepartee，themomentdidnotseempropitious。

"Perhapsnow，"jeeredProthero，"you’llbelieveI’minearnest！"

Fordstillresistedanytemptationtoreply。Hegrinnedapologeticallyatthegirlandshruggedhisshoulders。Herfacewaswhite，butitwaswhitefromexcitement，notfromfear。

"WhatdidItellyou？"shewhispered。"HeISmad——quitemad！"

Fordglancedatthebullet—holeinthepanelofthedoor。Itwasonalinewithhisheart。HelookedatMissDale;hershoulderwasonalevelwithhisown，andhereyeswerefollowinghis。

"Incasehedoesthatagain，"saidFord，"wewouldbemorecomfortablesittingdown。"

Withtheirshouldersagainstthewall，thetwoyoungpeoplesanktothefloor。Thepositionseemedtoappealtothemashumorous，and，whentheireyesmet，theysmiled。

"Toaspectator，"whisperedFordencouragingly，"weMIGHTappeartobegettingtheworstofthis。But，asamatteroffact，everyminuteCuthbertdoesnotcomemeansthatthenextminutemaybringhim。"

"Youdon’tbelievehewashurt？"askedthegirl。

"No，"saidFord。"IbelieveProtherofoundhim，andIbelievetheremayhavebeenafight。ButyouheardwhatPearsallsaid:’Themanoutsidewilltell。’IfCuthbert’sinapositiontotell，heisnotdownanareawithaknifeinhim。"

Hewasinterruptedbyafaintreportfromthelowestfloor，asthoughthedoortothestreethadbeensharplyslammed。MissDaleshowedthatshealsohadheardit。

"Myuncle，"shesaid，"makinghisescape！"

"Itmaybe，"Fordanswered。

Thereportdidnotsuggesttohimtheslammingofadoor，buthesawnoreasonforsayingsotothegirl。

Withhisfingerslockedacrosshisknees，Fordwasleaningforward，hiseyesfrowning，hislipstightlyshut。Athissidethegirlregardedhimcovertly。Hisbroadshoulders，almosttouchinghers，hisstrongjawprojectingaggressively，andthealert，observanteyesgaveherconfidence。Forthreeweeksshehadbeenmakingafightsingle—handed。Butshewasnowwillingtoceasestrugglingandrelax。Quitehappilysheplacedherselfandhersafetyinthekeepingofastranger。Halftoherself，halftotheman，shemurmured:"Itislike’TheSieurdeMaletroit’sDoor。"’

Withoutlookingather，Fordshookhisheadandsmiled。

"Nosuchluck，"hecorrectedgrimly。"Thatyoungmanwasgivenachoice。Themomenthewaswillingtomarrythegirlhecouldhavewalkedoutoftheroomfree。IdonotrecallProthero’ssayingI

canescapedeathbyanysuchcharmingalternative。"Thegirlinterruptedquickly。

"No，"shesaid;"youarenotatalllikethatyoungman。Hestumbledinbychance。Youcameonpurposetohelpme。Itwasfine，unselfish。"

"Itwasnot，"returnedFord。"Mymotivewasabsolutelyselfish。ItwasnottohelpyouIcame，buttobeabletotellaboutitlater。

Itismybusinesstodothat。AndbeforeIsawyou，itwasallintheday’swork。ButafterIsawyouitwasnolongerapartoftheday’swork;itbecameamatterofalifetime。"

Thegirlathissidelaughedsoftlyandlightly。"Alifetimeisnotlong，"shesaid，"whenyouarelockedinaroomandamadmanisshootingatyou。Itmaylastonlyanhour。"

"Whetheritlastsanhourormanyyears，saidFord，"itcanmeantomenowonlyonething"Heturnedquicklyandlookedinherfaceboldlyandsteadily:"You，"hesaid。

Thegirldidnotavoidhiseyes，butreturnedhisglancewithoneassteadyashisown。"Youareanamusingperson，"shesaid。"Doyoufeelitisnecessarytokeepupmycouragewithprettyspeeches？"

"Imadenoprettyspeech，"saidFord。"Iproclaimedafact。Youarethemostcharmingpersonthatevercameintomylife，andwhetherProtheroshootsusup，orwhetherwelivetogetbacktoGod’scountry，youwillneverleaveit。"

Thegirlpretendedtoconsiderhisspeechcritically。"Itwouldbealmostacompliment，"shesaid，"ifitwereintelligent，butwhenyouknownothingofme——itismerelyimpertinent。"

"Iknowthismuchofyou，"returnedFord，calmly;"Iknowyouarefineandgenerous，foryourfirstspeechtome，inspiteofyourowndanger，wasformysafety。Iknowyouarebrave，forIseeyounowfacingdeathwithoutdismay。"

Hewasagainsuddenlyhaltedby，twosharpreports。Theycamefromtheroomdirectlybelowthem。Itwasnolongerpossibletopretendtomisinterprettheirsignificance。

"Prothero！"exclaimedFord，"andhispistol！"

Theywaitedbreathlesslyforwhatmightfollow:anoutcry，thesoundofabodyfalling，athirdpistol—shot。Butthroughoutthehousetherewassilence。

"Ifyoureallythinkweareinsuchdanger，"declaredMissDale，"wearewastingtime！"

"WeareNOTwastingtime，"protestedFord;"wearereallygainingtime，foreachminuteCuthbertandthepolicearedrawingnearer，andtomoveaboutonlyinvitesabullet。And，whatisofmoreimportance，"hewentonquickly，asthoughtoturnhermindfromthemysteriouspistol—shots，"shouldwegetoutofthisalive，I

shallalreadyhavesaidwhatunderordinaryconditionsImightnothavefoundthecouragetotellyouinmanymonths。"Hewaitedasthoughhopefulofareply，butMissDaleremainedsilent。"Theysay，"continuedFord，"whenamanisdrowninghiswholelifepassesinreview。Wearedrowning，andyetIfindIcanseeintothepastnofurtherthanthelasthalf—hour。Ifindlifebeganonlythen，whenIlookedthroughthebarsofthatwindowandfoundYOU！"

Withthepalmofherhandthegirlstruckthefloorsharply。"Thisisneitherthetime，"sheexclaimed，"northeplaceto"

"Ididnotchoosetheplace，"Fordpointedout。"Itwasforceduponmewithagun。ButtheTIMEisexcellent。Atsuchatimeonespeaksonlywhatistrue。"

"Youcertainlyhaveastrangesenseofhumor，"shesaid，"butwhenyouareriskingyourlifetohelpme，howcanIbeangry？"

"Ofcourseyoucan’t，"Fordagreedheartily;"youcouldnotbesoconventional。"

"ButIAMconventional！"protestedMissDale。"AndIamnotUSEDtohavingyoungmentellmetheyhave’comeintomylifetostay’——certainlynotyoungmenwhocomeintomylifebywayofatrap—door，andwithoutanintroduction，withoutaname，withoutevenahat！It’sabsurd！It’snotreal！It’sanightmare！"

"Thewholesituationisabsurd！"Forddeclared。"HereweareintheheartofLondon，surroundedbytelephones，taxicabs，police——atleast，hopewearesurroundedbypoliceandyetwearecrawlingaroundtheflooronourhandsandkneesdodgingbullets。Iwishitwereanightmare。But，asit’snot"——herosetohisfeet——"IthinkI’lltry"

HewasinterruptedbyasharpblowuponthedoorandthevoiceofProthero。

"You，navyofficer！"hepanted。"Cometothedoor！StandclosetoitsothatIneedn’tshout。Come，quick！"

Fordmadenoanswer。MotioningtoMissDaletoremainwhereshewas，herannoiselesslytothebed，andfrombeneaththemattressliftedoneoftheironbarsuponwhichitrested。Graspingitatoneend，heswungthebarswiftlyasamanteststheweightofabaseballbat。Asaweaponitseemedtosatisfyhim，forhesmiled。

Thenoncemoreheplacedhimselfwithhisbacktothewall。"Doyouhearme？"roaredProthero。

"Ihearyou！"returnedFord。"Ifyouwanttotalktome，openthedoorandcomeinside。"

"Listentome，"calledProthero。"IfIopenthedooryoumayactthefool，andIwillhavetoshootyou，andIhavemadeupmymindtoletyoulive。Youwillsoonhavethishousetoyourselves。InafewmomentsIwillleaveit，butwhereIamgoingI’llneedmoney，andIwantthebank—notesinthatblueenvelope。"Fordswungtheironclubinshorthalf—circles。

"Comeinandgetthem！"hecalled。

"Don’ttriflewithme！"roaredtheJew，"Imaychangemymind。

Shovethemoneythroughthecrackunderthedoor。"

"Andgetshot！"returnedFord。"Notbitlikeit！"

"If，inoneminute，"shoutedProthero，"Idon’tseethemoneycomingthroughthatcrack，I’llbeginshootingthroughthisdoor，andneitherofyouwilllive！"

Restingthebarinthecrookofhiselbow，Fordsnatchedthebank—notesfromtheenvelope，and，stickingtheminhispocket，placedtheemptyenvelopeonthefloor。Stillkeepingoutofrange，andusinghisironbarasacroupieruseshisrake，hepushedtheenvelopeacrossthecarpetandunderthedoor。Whenhalfofithaddisappearedfromtheothersideofthedoor，itwassnatchedfromview。

AninstantlatertherewasascreamofangerandonalinewhereFordwouldhavebeen，hadheknelttoshovetheenvelopeunderthedoor，threebulletssplinteredthroughthepanel。

Atthesamemomentthegirlcaughthimbythewrist。Unheedingtheattackuponthedoor，hereyeswerefixeduponthewindows。WithherfreehandshepointedattheoneatwhichFordhadfirstappeared。Theblindwasstillraisedafewinches，andtheysawthatthenightwaslitwithastrangeandbrilliantradiance。Thestormhadpassed，andfromallthehousesthatbackedupontheoneinwhichtheywereprisonerslightsblazedfromeverywindow，andineachwerecrowdedmanypeople，andupontheroof—topsinsilhouettefromtheglareofthestreetlampsbelow，andintheyardsandclingingtothewallsthatseparatedthem，werehundredsofotherdark，shadowygroupschangingandswaying。Andfromthemrosetheconfused，inarticulate，terrifyingmurmurofamob。Itwasasthoughtheywereonarace—trackatnightfacingagreatgrandstandpeopledwithanarmyofghosts。Withthegirlathisside，Fordsprangtothewindowandthrewuptheblind，andastheyclungtothebars，peeringintothenight，thelightintheroomfellfulluponthem。Andinaninstantfromthewindowsopposite，fromtheyardsbelow，andfromthehouse—topscameasavage，exultantyellofwelcome，aconfusionofcries’orders，entreaties，agreatroarofwarning。Atthesound，Fordcouldfeelthegirlathissidetremble。

"Whatdoesitmean？"shecried。

"Cuthberthasraisedtheneighborhood！"shoutedFordjubilantly。

"Orelse"——hecriedinsuddenenlightenment——"thoseshotsweheard。"

Thegirlstoppedhimwithalowcryoffear。Shethrustherarmsbetweenthebarsandpointed。Intheyardbelowthemwastheslopingroofofthekitchen。Itstretchedfromthehousetothewallofthebackyard。Abovethewallfromtheyardbeyondrosealadder，and，facedownupontheroof，awryandsprawling。werethemotionlessformsoftwomen。Theirshiningcapesandheavyhelmetsproclaimedtheircalling。

"Thepolice！"exclaimedFord。"AndtheshotswethoughtwereforthoseinthehousewereforTHEM！Thisiswhathashappened，"hewhisperedeagerly:"ProtheroattackedCuthbert。Cuthbertgetsawayandgoestothepolice。Hetellsthemyouarehereaprisoner，thatIamhereprobablyaprisoner，andoftheattackuponhimself。Thepolicetrytomakeanentrancefromthestreet——thatwasthefirstshotweheard——andaredrivenback;thentheytrytocreepinfromtheyard，andthosepoordevilswerekilled。"