a crack seemed to
indicate a door. Cautiously Alex rose to his knees, and began creeping
forward to investigate. When half way a loud creak of the boards brought
him to a halt with his heart in his mouth. But the loud conversation
below continued, and heartily thanking the drumming rain on the roof
overhead, Alex moved on, and finally reached his goal.

As he had hoped, it was a small door. Feeling cautiously about, he found
it to be secured by a hook. When he sought to raise the catch, however,
it resisted. Evidently it had not been lifted for many years, and had
rusted to the staple. Carefully Alex threw his weight upward against it.
It still refused to move. He pushed harder, and suddenly it gave with a
piercing screech.

Instantly the talking below ceased, and Alex stood rigid, scarcely
breathing. Then a voice exclaimed, "Up de stair!" quick footsteps crossed
the floor towards the ladder, and in a panic of fear Alex threw himself
bodily against the door, in a mad endeavor to force it. But it still
held, and with a thrill of despair he dropped flat to the floor, and saw
the foreigner's head come above the opening.

[Illustration: "NOW I AM GOING TO CUT YOUR CORDS," ALEX WENT ON
SOFTLY.]

There, however, the man paused, and turned to gaze about, listening. For
a brief space, while only the rain on the roof broke the silence, the
foreigner apparently looked directly at the boy on the floor, and Alex's
heart seemed literally to stand still. But at last, after what appeared
an interminable time, the man again turned, and withdrew, and with a sigh
of relief Alex heard him say to those below, "Only de wind, dat's all."

Waiting until the buzz of conversation had been fully resumed, Alex rose
once more to his knees, and began a cautious examination of the door. The
cause of its refusal to open was soon apparent. The old hinges had given,
allowing it to sag and catch against a raised nail-head in the sill.

Promptly Alex stood upright, grasped one of the cross-pieces, carefully
lifted, and in another moment the door swung silently outward.

With a glance Alex saw that the way was clear, and quickly lowering
himself by his hands, dropped. Here the rain once more helped him. On the
wet, soggy ground he alighted with scarcely a sound. Momentarily,
however, though he now breathed easily for the first time since he had
entered the house, he stood, listening. The excited talking inside went
on uninterruptedly, and moving t