ows these two seemed, evidently
Italian laborers, gazing at the scene uncomprehendingly, but ready for
any work their master set them. In stupefaction, Laurie stared at the
tableau, while eight eyes unwinkingly stared back at him. Then he
nodded.

"Well, Bertie," he said pleasantly, "you're outdoing even yourself in
the size of this delegation. Four to one. Quite some odds." His voice
changed. "You contemptible coward! Why don't you take me on alone? Have
you got your chloroform cone?"

The complexion of Shaw, red with cold, darkened to an apoplectic purple.

"You'll soon find out what we've got," he barked, "and what's coming to
you. Now, are you going to put up a fight against four, or will you go
quietly?"

"I think," said Laurie thoughtfully, "I'd rather go quietly. But just
where is it I'm going?"

"You'll soon know." Shaw was carrying a coil of rope, light but strong,
and now he tossed it to one of the Italians.

"Tie him up," he curtly ordered.

"Oh, no," said Laurie, backing a step. "Tut, tut! I wouldn't advise
that. I really wouldn't. It would be one of those rash acts you read
about."

Something in his voice checked the forward stride of the Italian with
the rope. He hesitated, glancing at Shaw. With a gesture, the latter
ordered the two men through the door.

"Wait just outside," he directed. He turned to Laurie. "Out you go!" he
ordered brusquely.

Laurie hesitated, glancing at Doris, but he could not meet her eye. At
the window, with her back to the room, she stared out at the storm. Even
in that moment her attitude stunned him. Also, he felt an unconquerable
aversion to anything in the nature of a struggle before her. Perhaps,
once outside the room, he could take on those ruffians, together or in
turn.

Without another word, he crossed the threshold into the hall. Before him
hurried the two Italians. Behind him crowded Shaw and the secretary. He
walked forward perhaps six strides. Then, as the side railing of the
stairway rose beside him, he saw his opportunity. He struck out right
and left with all his strength, flooring one of the Italians and
sending the second helpless against the wall. In the next instant he had
leaped over the slender rail of the stairway, landed half-way down the
stairs, and made a jump for the front door.

As he had expected, the door was locked. Shaw, if he had entered that
way, had not been too hurried to attend to this little detail. Laurie
had just time to brac