iot call in, there would probably
be a battle--for the Gray Seal! Sublime irony! It was death at the hands
of either one!

Children whimpered on the stairs outside, men swore, women cried, feet
shuffled hurriedly by as the tenement emptied. Occasionally, a pertinent
invitation to him to remain where he was, there was a vicious rip
through the panel, and the drumming whir of a bullet flying through the
room. And then a curious, ominous crackling sound--and then the smell of
smoke.

Jimmie Dale stood up, his face drawn and haggard. The tenement would go
like matchwood, burn like a bonfire, with any kind of a start--and there
was no doubt about the start! The Skeeter, the Magpie, and the rest
would have seen that it had headway enough to serve their purpose before
either firemen or police could thwart them. He, Jimmie Dale, could
take his choice: walk out into a bullet, or stay there and--he smiled
miserably as his eyes fell upon the pile of Larry the Bat's clothing on
the floor. There was no longer need to worry about ITS destruction--the
fire would take care of that only too well! And then a low, bitter
cry came to his lips, and he clenched his hands. If it were only
himself--only himself! He crossed to the Tocsin and caught her in his
arms.

"Oh, my God--Marie!" he faltered.

The cape and hood had fallen from her, and with the hood had fallen the
gray-streaked hair of Silver Mag--and now as she smiled at him it was
from a face that was very beautiful and very brave and very full of
tenderness.

And he held her there--and neither spoke.

It seeped in under the threshold of the door, it came from everywhere,
filling the room--the black, strangling smoke. Outside in the hall all
was silence now--save for that crackle of flame that grew in volume,
that came now in quick, sharp reports, like revolver shots. From out in
the street swelled a cry: "Death to the Gray Seal!" Then the clang of
bells, the roar and rattle of fire apparatus, strident voices bellowing
orders, and the crowd again, blood hungry: "Death to the Gray Seal!"

There was a chance, just one--if the fire had no headway along the upper
end of the landing--and if they had not thought to set a watch for
him ABOVE! They--the Magpie, the Skeeter, and his gang--must have been
driven even out of the house now by the smoke and flame.

"Give me the key, I am going to open the door, Marie," he said quietly.
"Cover your face with a handkerchief, anything, and ru