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across the hallway； still another door。 He observed that the first two doors
were each fastened from the outside by bolts and a spring lock； and that
the key to each lock was in place。 The fact moved him with indecision。 If
he took possession of the keys； he could enter the rooms at his pleasure。
On the other hand； should their loss be discovered； an alarm would be
raised and he would inevitably come under suspicion。 The very purpose he
had in view might be frustrated。 He decided that where they were the keys
would serve him as well as in his pocket； and turned his attention to the
third door。 This was not locked； and； from its position； Ford guessed it
must be an entrance to a servants' stairway。
Confident of this； he opened it； and found a dark； narrow landing； a
flight of steps mounting from the kitchen below； and； to his delight an iron
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ladder leading to a trap…door。 He could hardly forego a cheer。 If the trap…
door were not locked； he had found a third line of retreat； a means of
escape by way of the roof； far superior to any he might attempt by the
main staircase and the street…door。
Ford stepped into the landing； closing the door behind him and though
this left him in complete darkness； he climbed the ladder； and with eager
fingers felt for the fastenings of the trap。 He had feared to find a padlock；
but； to his infinite relief； his fingers closed upon two bolts。 Noiselessly；
and smoothly； they drew back from their sockets。 Under the pressure of his
hand the trap door lifted； and through the opening swept a breath of chill
night air。
Ford hooked one leg over a round of the ladder and； with hands frees
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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The Lost House
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