is was a longer, more
arduous task. He reached for the cracked pitcher to pour more water into
the basin--and, snatching up his revolver instead, whirled to face the
door.

Some one was outside! He had caught the creak of a footstep upon the
stairs. In a flash he was across the room and crouched by the door. Yes,
the step was nearer now--at the head of the stairs--on the landing. His
revolver lifted, holding a steady bead on the door panel. And then there
came a low voice:

"Jimmie! Jimmie! Are you there? Quick, Jimmie! Are you there?"

The Tocsin! What was she doing here! Why had he not warned her up there
on the avenue, fool that he was, that of all places she was to keep away
from here!

She slipped into the room as he unlocked the door.

"They're coming, Jimmie!" she panted breathlessly. "There's not an
instant to lose! Listen! When the Magpie ran from the house, I ran with
him--but it"--she tried to smile--"it wasn't to obey you, to run away--I
had made up my mind I wouldn't do that--it was to find out from him what
had happened. He told me you were the Gray Seal. He did not suspect me.
He thinks you were no more than just Larry the Bat to me, as you were
to everybody else. He went straight to Chicago Ike's gambling rooms and
found the Skeeter's gang there--you know them, Red Mose, the Midget,
Harve Thoms, and the Skeeter--you remember your fight with them over
old Luddy's diamonds! Well, they have not forgotten, either! They are on
their way here, now! The news that you are the Gray Seal is travelling
like lightning all through the underworld--there will be a mob here on
the Skeeter's heels. So, Jimmie--quick! Run!"

Run! Half Larry the Bat, half Jimmie Dale--and run! In another five
minutes, perhaps--yes. But there probably would not be five minutes--and
she--if she were found here!

"Yes," he said quietly. "I'll get away in a moment. You go at once.
I'll"--he was smiling at her reassuringly--"I'll meet you at--"

She looked at him then for an instant--interrupting him quickly, as she
shook her head.

"I didn't notice, Jimmie. You cannot go like that--can you? It would
be even worse than being caught as Larry the Bat. Hurry then--I am not
going without you."

"No!" he said. "Go now! Go at once, Marie--while you can. You have
risked your life as it is to come here and tell me this. For God's sake,
go now!"

The great, brown eyes were smiling bravely through a sudden mist. She
shook her head again.