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The Lost House
through that crack； I'll begin shooting through this door； and neither of you
will live！〃
Resting the bar in the crook of his elbow； Ford snatched the bank…notes
from the envelope； and； sticking them in his pocket； placed the empty
envelope on the floor。 Still keeping out of range； and using his iron bar as
a croupier uses his rake； he pushed the envelope across the carpet and
under the door。 When half of it had disappeared from the other side of the
door； it was snatched from view。
An instant later there was a scream of anger and on a line where Ford
would have been； had he knelt to shove the envelope under the door； three
bullets splintered through the panel。
At the same moment the girl caught him by the wrist。 Unheeding the
attack upon the door； her eyes were fixed upon the windows。 With her free
hand she pointed at the one at which Ford had first appeared。 The blind
was still raised a few inches； and they saw that the night was lit with a
strange and brilliant radiance。 The storm had passed； and from all the
houses that backed upon the one in which they were prisoners lights
blazed from every window； and in each were crowded many people； and
upon the roof…tops in silhouette from the glare of the street lamps below；
and in the yards and clinging to the walls that separated them； were
hundreds of other dark； shadowy groups changing and swaying。 And from
them rose the confused； inarticulate； terrifying murmur of a mob。 It was as
though they were on a race…track at night facing a great grandstand
peopled with an army of ghosts。 With the girl at his side； Ford sprang to
the window and threw up the blind； and as they clung to the bars； peering
into the night； the light in the room fell full upon them。 And in an instant
from the windows opposite； from the yards below； and from the house…
tops came a savage； exultant yell of welcome； a confusion of cries' orders；
entreaties； a great roar of warning。 At the sound； Ford could feel the girl at
his side tremble。
〃What does it mean？〃 she cried。
〃Cuthbert has raised the neighborhood！〃 shouted Ford jubilantly。 〃Or
else〃he cried in sudden enlightenment 〃those shots we heard。〃
The girl stopped him with a low cry of fear。 She thrust her arms
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The Lost House
between the bars and pointed。 In the yard below them was the sloping roof
of the kitchen。 It stretched from the house to the wall of the back yard。
Above the wall from the yard beyond rose a ladder； and； face down upon
the roof； awry and sprawling。 were the motionless forms of two men。
Their shining capes and heavy helmets proclaimed their calling。
〃The police！〃 exclaimed Ford。 〃And the shots we thought were for
those in the house were for THEM！ This is what has happened；〃 he
whispered eagerly： 〃 Prothero attacked Cuthbert。 Cuthbert gets away and
goes to the police。 He tells them you are here a prisoner； that I am here
probably a prisoner； and of the attack upon himself。 The police try to make
an entrance from the streetthat was the first shot we heardand are
driven back； then they try to creep in from the yard； and those poor devils
were killed。〃
As he spoke a sudden silence had fallen； a silence as startling as had
been the shout of warning。 Some fresh attack upon the house which the
prisoners could not see； but which must be visible to those in the houses
opposite was going forward。
〃Perhaps they are on the roof；〃' whispered Ford joyfully。 〃They'll be
through the trap in a minute； and you'll be free！〃
〃No！〃 said the girl。
She also spoke in a whisper； as though she feared Prothero might hear
her。 And with her hand she again pointed。 Cautiously above the top of the
ladder appeared the head and shoulders of a man。 He wore a policeman's
helmet； but； warned by the fate of his comrades； he came armed。
Balancing himself with his left hand on the rung of the ladder； he raised
the other and pointed a revolver。 It was apparently at the two prisoners；
and Miss Dale sprang to one side。
〃Standstill！〃 commanded Ford。 〃He knows who YOU are！ You heard
that yell when they saw you？ They know you are the prisoner； and they are
glad you're still alive。 That officer is aiming at the window BELOW us。
He's after the men who murdered his mates。〃
From the window directly beneath them came the crash of a rifle； and
from the top of the ladder the revolver of the police officer blazed in the
darkness。 Again the rifle crashed； and the man on the ladder jerked his
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The Lost House
hands above his head and pitched backward。 Ford looked into the face of
the girl and found her eyes filled with horror。
〃Where is my uncle； Pearsall？〃 she faltered。 〃He has two riflesfor
shooting in Scotland。 Was that a rifle that〃 Her lips refused to finish the
question。
〃It was a rifle；〃 Ford stammered； 〃but probably Prothero〃
Even as he spoke the voice of the Jew rose in a shriek from the floor
below them； but not from the window below them。 The sound was from
the front room opening on Sowell Street。 In the awed silence that had
suddenly fallen his shrieks carried sharply。 They were more like the snarls
and ravings of an animal than the outcries of a man。
〃Take THAT！〃 he shouted； with a flood of oaths； 〃and THAT； and
THAT！〃
Each word was punctuated by the report of his automatic； and to the
amazement of Ford； was instantly answered from Sowell Street by a
scattered volley of rifle and pistol shots。
〃This isn't a fight；〃 he cried； 〃it's a battle！〃
With Miss Dale at his side； he ran into the front room； and； raising the
blind； appeared at the window。 And instantly； as at the other end of the
house； there was； at sight of the woman's figure； a tumult of cries； a shout
of warning； and a great roar of welcome。 From beneath them a man ran
into the deserted street； and in the glare of the gas…lamp Ford saw his
white； upturned face。 He was without a hat and his head was circled by a
bandage。 But Ford recognized Cuthbert。 〃T