the lost house(失踪的房子)-第14节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
place was now as clearly exposed as though it were held in the circle of a
spot…light； and at the success of the maneuver the great mob raised an
applauding cheer。 But the triumph was brief。 In a minute the blazing lamps
had been shattered by bullets； and once more； save for the fierce flashes
from rifles and pistols； Sowell Street lay in darkness。
Ford drew Miss Dale back into the room。
〃Those men below；〃 he said； 〃are mad。 Prothero's always been mad；
and your Pearsall is mad with drugs。 And the sight of blood has made
them maniacs。 They know they now have no chance to live。 There's no
fear or hope to hold them； and one life more or less means nothing。 If they
should return here〃
He hesitated； but the girl nodded quickly。 I understand；〃 she said。
〃I'm going to try to break down the door and get to the roof；〃
explained Ford。 〃My hope is that this attack will keep them from hearing；
and〃
〃No；〃 protested the girl。 〃They will hear you； and they will kill you。〃
〃They may take it into their crazy heads to do that； anyway；〃 protested
Ford； 〃so the sooner I get you away； the better。 I've only to smash the
panels close to the bolts； put my arm through the hole； and draw the bolts
back。 Then； another blow on the spring lock when the firing is loudest； and
47
… Page 48…
The Lost House
we are in the hall。 Should anything happen to me； you must know how to
make your escape alone。 Across the hall is a door leading to an iron ladder。
That ladder leads to a trap…door。 The trap… door is open。 When you reach
the roof； run westward toward a lighted building。〃
〃I am not going without you；〃 said Miss Dale quietly； 〃not after what
you have done for me。〃
〃I haven't done anything for you yet；〃 objected Ford。 〃But in case I get
caught I mean to make sure there will be others on hand who will。〃
He pulled his pencil and a letter from his pocket； and on the back of
the envelope wrote rapidly： 〃I will try to get Miss Dale up through the trap
in the roof。 You can reach the roof by means of the apartment house in
Devonshire Street。 Send men to meet her。〃
In the groups of officials half hidden in the doorway farther down the
street； he could make out the bandaged head of Cuthbert。 〃Cuthbert！〃 he
called。 Weighting the envelope with a coin； he threw it into the air。 It fell
in the gutter； under a lamp…post； and full in view； and at once the two
madmen below splashed the street around it with bullets。 But； indifferent
to the bullets； a policeman sprang from a dark areaway and flung himself
upon it。 The next moment he staggered。 Then limping； but holding himself
erect； he ran heavily toward the group of officials。 The Home Secretary
snatched the envelope from him； and held it toward the light。
In his desire to learn if his message had reached those on the outside；
Ford leaned far over the sill of the window。 His imprudence was all but
fatal。 From the roof opposite there came a sudden yell of warning； from
directly below him a flash； and a bullet grazed his forehead and shattered
the window…pane above him。 He was deluged with a shower of broken
glass。 Stunned and bleeding； he sprang back。
With a cry of concern； Miss Dale ran toward him。
〃It's nothing！〃 stammered Ford。 〃It only means I must waste no more
time。〃 He balanced his iron rod as he would a pikestaff； and aimed it at the
upper half of the door to the hall。
〃When the next volley comes；〃 he said； 〃I'll smash the panel。〃
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
48
… Page 49…
The Lost House
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。
49
… Page 50…
The Lost House
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
