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white； upturned face。 He was without a hat and his head was circled by a
bandage。 But Ford recognized Cuthbert。 〃That's Ford！〃 he cried； pointing。
〃And the girl's with him！〃 He turned to a group of men crouching in the
doorway of the next house to the one in which Ford was imprisoned。 〃The
girl's alive！〃 he shouted。
〃The girl's alive！〃 The words were caught up and flung from window
to window； from house…top to house…top； with savage； jubilant cheers。
Ford pushed Miss Dale forward。
〃Let them see you；〃 he said； 〃and you will never see a stranger sight。〃
Below them； Sowell Street； glistening with rain and snow； lay empty；
but at either end of it； held back by an army of police； were black masses
of men； and beyond them more men packed upon the tops of taxicabs and
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hansoms； stretching as far as the street…lamps showed； and on the roofs
shadowy forms crept cautiously from chimney to chimney； and in the
windows of darkened rooms opposite； from behind barricades of
mattresses and upturned tables； rifles appeared stealthily； to be lost in a
sudden flash of flame。 And with these flashes were others that came from
windows and roofs with the report of a bursting bomb； and that； on the
instant； turned night into day； and then left the darkness more dark。
Ford gave a cry of delight。
〃They're taking flash…light photographs〃 he cried jubilantly。 〃Well
done； you Pressmen！〃 The instinct of the reporter became compelling。 〃If
they're alive to develop those photographs to…night；〃 he exclaimed eagerly；
〃Cuthbert will send them by special messenger； in time to catch the
MAURETANIA and the REPUBLIC will have them by Sunday。 I mayn't
be alive to see them；〃 he added regretfully； 〃but what a feature for the
Sunday supplement！〃
As the eyes of the two prisoners became accustomed to the darkness；
they saw that the street was not； as at first they had supposed； entirely
empty。 Directly below them in the gutter； where to approach it was to
invite instant death from Prothero's pistol； lay the dead body of a
policeman； and at the nearer end of the street； not fifty yards from them；
were three other prostrate forms。 But these forms were animate； and alive
to good purpose。 From a public…house on the corner a row of yellow lamps
showed them clearly。 Stretched on pieces of board； and mats
commandeered from hallways and cabs； each of the three men lay at full
length； nursing a rifle。 Their belted gray overcoats； flat； visored caps； and
the set of their shoulders marked them for soldiers。
〃For the love of Heaven！〃 exclaimed Ford incredulously； 〃they've
called out the Guards！〃
As unconcernedly as though facing the butts at a rifle…range； the three
sharp…shooters were firing point…blank at the windows from which
Prothero and Pearsall were waging their war to the death upon the
instruments of law and order。 Beside them； on his knees in the snow； a
young man with the silver hilt of an officer's sword showing through the
slit in his greatcoat； was giving commands； and at the other end of the
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The Lost House
street； a brother officer in evening dress was directing other sharp…shooters；
bending over them like the coach of a tug…of…war team； pointing with
white…gloved fingers。 On the side of the street from which Prothero was
firing； huddled in a doorway； were a group of officials； inspectors of police；
fire chiefs in brass helmets； more officers of the Guards in bear…skins； and；
wrapped in a fur coat； the youthful Horne Secretary。 Ford saw him wave
his arm； and at his bidding the cordon of police broke； and slowly forcing
its way through the mass of people came a huge touring…car； its two
blazing eyes sending before it great shafts of light。 The driver of the car
wasted no time in taking up his position。 Dashing half…way down the street；
he as swiftly backed the automobile over the gutter and up on the sidewalk；
so that the lights in front fell full on the door of No。 40。 Then； covered by
the fire from the roofs； he sprang to the lamps and tilted them until they
threw their shafts into the windows of the third story。 Prothero's hiding…
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
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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 c