Part 33 (1/2)

For the time being she forgot the dangers which surrounded them, in her joy at the discovery of the boy. It had come so suddenly, so unexpectedly. If she could only escape, now, with the child, nothing else would matter in the least. And between her and freedom there lay but the thickness of a single door, and yet it seemed that she could not pa.s.s it.

She lifted the child from his hiding place and stood him upon the floor, then quickly swung the heavy slab of plaster back into position. At least, she reasoned, the kidnappers, when they returned, should not at once learn that their captive had escaped.

She knew that the hiding place had been but a temporary one, a means whereby the child might be kept out of sight during the day in case strangers should happen to enter the room. As soon as the kidnappers returned, they would, she realized, spirit the child away to some more secure retreat.

She went to the door and again shook it frantically, pulling at the k.n.o.b with all her strength, without producing the slightest result. The lock was evidently a strong one--the door held firm and unyielding, though she threw against it her entire weight.

Evidently there was no hope of escape here. Then she again bethought herself of the window. For a moment she gazed out into the darkness. The pavement was thirty feet below. No one was in sight. How could she ever reach the ground, with the child as well, even if she had possessed a rope? The thing was impossible.

Clearly there was nothing to do but wait. Possibly the a.s.sistance she expected from her friends, or the police, would arrive very soon--surely she could in some way keep the kidnappers occupied until then!

And suddenly she realized that the time had come. She heard the door of the house close softly, and upon the stair the sound of mounting footsteps.

Which was it, the police, or the kidnappers? The latter, she felt morally certain, since the former, in their haste to rescue the child, would beyond any question have arrived in an automobile, and at top speed.

The newcomers were mounting the stairs in a leisurely manner, as though free from any anxiety. Grace heard them pause for a moment on the first landing, then start up the second flight of stairs. It seemed to her out of the question, to stand in the middle of the room and await their entrance. At least she could postpone the fatal moment a little while, by hiding, with the boy, in the closet. She stepped into it, the child's hand in hers, and drew the door shut, just as the two men entered the room. On her way, she hastily blew out the candle.

They were the same two men that she had seen before,--the black-bearded man, now without his beard, and the artist, Durand. She saw this, as soon as the latter had relit the candle. She wondered if he would notice that the wick was still warm. Evidently he did not; for they threw themselves into chairs, lit cigarettes, and began to talk.

”Now we can speak freely,” said Durand. ”How did things go?”

”I got the money--gave the blue signal, and expected to be halfway to Brussels by now. What nonsense is this about a red light?”

”It is no nonsense, I a.s.sure you. I saw it with my own eyes, as plain as day.”

”Then Francois must have made a mistake, or else he has been placed under arrest--the latter, no doubt. Now the question is, What shall we do? I think we ought to get out of Paris as soon as possible. It isn't safe to stay here.” He looked about him nervously.

”Why not? You didn't telephone Monsieur Stapleton this address, did you?”

”No, naturally not.”

”Then I don't see but what we are quite safe. No one knows the child is here.”

”Then you don't intend to give him up?”

”Not yet. I must first find out whether or not Francois is in trouble.”

”Let him look out for himself.”

The older man frowned. ”Since when, my friend,” he asked, ”have I been in the habit of deserting my comrades? Francois must go free, or Mr.

Stapleton does not get his boy. That's flat. The first thing is to send his father something that will let him see that we mean business.”

”We've got to be sure about Francois, first.”

”I'll find that out, tonight. My plan is this. We must first get the child away to Lavillac's place. This is too unsafe, here. Anyone might come in.”

”They'd have difficulty in finding the hiding place.” The younger man grinned.

”That's all very well; but the other place is safer. And then--Lavillac's woman can look after the brat while we are away. What a pity Francois had to get into a mess at the last moment! I hoped to be rid of the boy, by now.” The older man rose and began striding up and down the room.

”Well,” he said at length, sharply, ”we might as well get along. I move that we wrap the boy in a coat, take him down to the car, run quickly out to Lavillac's place, leave him there, and start for Brussels at once. The rest we can do by 'phone. Francois set free--the boy the same.