" she added. "I don't think they'll attack in the
dark. There are five of them. I'm sure I wounded or killed one. They
weren't expecting a guard. I left the gun with father. He's behind the
cashier's desk." Then, all her courage evaporating, she turned an
appealing, little girl face toward her lover. "Don't let yourself be
killed, Jack. I'd die too."

"June, you're wonderful," he whispered. "I didn't know there was a
girl alive as brave as you. Good-by. No matter what happens, keep the
wave in tune." He kissed her tenderly, trying not to think he had done
so for the last time, and hurried out.

The stairs were black as the inside of a tomb. Once he stumbled over
the body of a charwoman and came near falling headlong.

"Nothing's happened since that first volley," whispered Manthis when
Jack slipped into the cage. "They're holding off for dawn. Look!" his
voice wavered. "Was that a face at the window?" He fired wildly. Glass
tinkled.

"Easy," warned Baron. "Don't waste ammunition. Besides, if you get
this place full of smoke they'll jump us."

* * * * *

Dawn was painting the windows gray when the assault began. Their first
warning came when a small object was tossed into the lobby. It
exploded in a cloud of white vapor.

"Tear gas," yelled Jack. "Back to the stairs." They ran for cover,
weeping and choking.

Then began a slow retreat up the stairways, Jack guarding the front
and Manthis the back passages. At first it was a simple matter for
their enemies to toss tear bombs through the fire doors, then,
protected by respirators, capture another floor. But as the light
increased this became more and more hazardous. Twice a spray of
buckshot laid a Solinski man low.

"He hasn't many men available," called Jack as the attack slackened.
"But watch out. His time's about up. Hey, look at that woman!" A
white-uniformed maid, whom he remembered having seen lying in the same
spot every time he climbed the stairs, had stirred weakly, as though
about to wake.

It was their glance at the sleeping form which undid them. When they
looked up both fire doors were open and helmeted figures were emerging
from them.

The shotguns roared. Two of their attackers collapsed, but the others
came on. Before there was time for another shot they were at close
quarters. Standing back to back, Manthis and Jack clubbed their guns
and held their ground.

The fact that Solinski and his men wore respirator