Part 15 (2/2)

”Listen,” he cautioned

muffled, but distinct, there came an outbreak of pistol shots, followed by shouts faintly heard

”What I feared,” said Captain Folso to attract help Co the dark hall toward the stair door, he said:

”Quick, Haht I can't find the knob Ah”--as the light of the little torch winked on--”that's better”

He pulled the door open, and started down the stairs, Jack at his shoulder and flashi+ng the light ahead The others crowded at their heels

CHAPTER XIV

THROUGH THE TUNNEL

At the foot of the stairas another door, and this stood open It gave upon another hallway, carpeted richly, and dim, yet not so dark but what Captain Folsoreat open stairway fro room below into which descended another stairway at the far end of the hall

Achorus in Italian, and peering circuh an open balustrade into that lower rooreat square piano, a giant of a e shock of dark brown hair and ferocious er in size, lolled negligently at one end of the keyboard, his red lips parted wide in a grin of enjoy between, and at the other end of the piano, with his elbows planted on the instrument and his head pressed between his hands, stood or rather leaned a rough-looking rizzled hair all ahere he had run his fingers through it, and wearing a khaki shi+rt open at the throat

”Sing that again, Pete What d'ye call it? The Bull Fighter Song, hey?

Well, I don't know its under my skin Come on”

Thehis head in violent approval, when the door froallery was burst open uncere individual whirled into the rooreat excite to venture within, stood grouped in the open doorway

”Here, Mike, wot d'ye entleman's house, too Don't ye know any better, ye scut?” demanded the first speaker, he who had asked for a repetition of the song

Evidently, thought Captain Folsoh it was apparent he was a privileged character

”Ah, now, Paddy Ryan,” said the man called Mike; ”ah, now, Paddy Ryan, sure an' I know 'tis a gentleman's house since you rule it But do them fellers on the roof know it?”

”Fellers on the roof?” said Ryan, advancing a step, threateningly

”Mike, ye been drinkin' again An' the night's work not done yet Out on ye, ye--ye----”

”Listen,” said Mike, holding up a hand ”Listen 'Tis all I ask Sure an' wid Pete caterwaulin', 'tis no wonder at all ye cannot hear wot's goin' on Hear the shootin' now, don't ye?”

As if he were aat co of the trio on the roof, which for the moment had died doas now violently renewed Ryan's lower jaw dropped open grotesquely

”Noill ye believe me?” demanded Mike, triurip of his astonishment