here is that?"

"In the hall opposite."

Jarvis snapped a finger, angry at his own mistake.

"I thought that red meant it was in this room. Oh, hell!... I beg your
pardon!"

A faint smile turned up the corner of the red lips, and she shrugged
her shoulders ever so lightly.

"Well, you know where it is now; why don't you go?"

Jarvis shook his head with determination: it was evident that this
surprised and surprising young person would be amenable to reason--he
had many logical reasons at his command.

"I can't go that way--they'll be waiting in the hall," he declared, as
he studied the windows and portals. "The red light in the corridor
fooled me--I thought the fire-escape would get me to the floor below,
where I could take an elevator down during the hubbub. There they come
again."

As the odd pair stood, with bated breath, quick steps and a running
fire of conversation could be heard in the hall. It was evident that
the chase was getting warm.

The girl studied the pose of her curious visitor--it was not the
cringing attitude of a criminal. In the lines of his well-built figure
there was the unmistakable grace of a gentleman to the manor born--the
fearless confidence, despite his predicament, of a man confident of his
own justification.

She was puzzled--her curiosity gradually overcoming her outraged
feelings and her natural resentment against his assured usurpation of
the situation.

This was a new experience for the lady of the lacy filaments and regal
poise; yet it was far from unpleasant to meet such calm masculinity.
She switched on the light once more, to feel a surprising satisfaction
in the impersonal, unabashed honesty of those steady blue eyes.

Jarvis became conscious of a twinge in his hand, and looking down at
his left hand, observed a little rivulet of blood dripping down to his
finger-tips. He quickly drew his handkerchief from his pocket, as
though to cover the wound before she saw it. The action and its motive
did not escape the observant dark eyes. Her sex asserted itself; she
advanced, nervous once more.

"You are wounded? What has really happened? You must dress that hand
..."

"I almost stopped one of the bullets--that's all. You see it was not
one-sided. But I am afraid it will be, if they get me now. I don't see
how the devil----" here he ran to the shaded window to peer at the
twinkling street lamps far below,----"Oh, damn!"

The girl's manner froze again. She stepped back