the lost house(失踪的房子)-第9节
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moved the trap to one side。 An instant later he had scrambled to the roof；
and； after carefully replacing the trap； rose and looked about him。 To his
satisfaction； he found that the roof upon which he stood ran level with the
roofs adjoining its to as far as Devonshire Street； where they encountered
the wall of an apartment house。 This was of seven stories。 On the fifth
story a row of windows； brilliantly lighted； opened upon the roofs over
which he planned to make his retreat。 Ford chuckled with nervous
excitement。
〃Before long；〃 he assured himself； I will be visiting the man who owns
that flat。 He will think I am a burglar。 He will send for the police。 There is
no one in the world I shall be so glad to see！〃
Ford considered that running over roofs； even when their pitfalls 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；
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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；
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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
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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
