Part 27 (2/2)

”No You will tell me to-morrow”

”Yes, yes,--to-ain

For so intently for sounds in the hall; both atching the door with unblinking eyes

She leaned closer to whisper in his ear Their shoulders touched He wondered if she experienced the sah his body She told him of the man atched across the hall from the room supposed to be occupied by Loeb the secretary, and of Sprouse's inco

”Where is Mr Curtis?” he asked

Her breath fanned his cheek, her lips were close to his ear ”There is no Mr Curtis here He died four o in Florida”

”I suspected as much” He did not press her for further revelations

”Sprouse should be here by this time It isn't likely that he has met with a o out there and see if he requires any--”

She clutched his ar of the kind

You shall not--”

”sh!+ What do you take me for, Miss Cameron? He may be sorely in need of help Do you think that I would leave him to God knohat sort of fate? Not ether and--”

”But he said positively that I was to go in case he did not return in--in fifteen ed ”He may have been cut off and was coot to see what has beco at his arm ”Do not be foolhardy You are not skilled at--”

”There is only one way to stop me, Miss Cameron If you will come with me now--”

”But I o I will find out whether he has succeeded Stand over there by the , ready to go if I have to her than he realised in wrenching his arm free She uttered a low moan and covered her face with her hands Undeterred, he crossed to the door His hand was on the knob when a door slammed violently somewhere in a distant part of the house

A hoarse shout of alar out, and then the rush of heavy feet over thickly carpeted floors

Barnes acted with lightning swiftness He sprang to the open , half-carrying, half-dragging the girl with him

”Now for it!” he whispered ”Not a second to lose Cli on for dear life” He had scra flat across the sill ”Hurry! Don't be afraid I ah to carry you if the vines do their part”

With surprising alacrity and sureness she crawled out beside hi her are with one hand he felt for and clutched the thick vine with the other Slowly he slid his body off of the sill and swung free by one arm An instant later he found the lattice with the other hand and the hurried descent began His only fear was that the vine would not hold If it broke loose they would drop fifteen feet or , an ar his ear and neck, her ar back, and--Why be a pessi of an eye he picked her up in his arrass plot into the shrubbery She did not utter a sound Her arainst his

Presently he set her down His breath was gone, his strength exhausted

”Can you--asped ”Give me your hand, and follow as close to s than you”

Shouts were now heard, and shrill blasts on a police whistle split the air