e light. He saw a door in the room
standing open, and through this Nora was passing. Then the burglar
pulled it shut and the place was a blank. Bat considered for only an
instant as to what was best to do. His strong fingers gripped at the
sash, and to his satisfaction and gratification it slid upward; with a
pull he had lifted his heavy body upon the sill and was in the room. His
steps were soft and long as he moved toward the door through which the
two had just gone; his hand was reaching out for the knob when he saw it
turning slowly. He shrank away intuitively, and against the wall, while
the door opened with him behind it. He heard a hesitating sort of
breathing, and then a step within the room. Around the edge of the door
Bat could see the gas branch as it projected from the wall; a hand
appeared and turned off the light, then the footsteps sounded once more,
leaving the room, and the door closed as softly as it had opened.

Bat waited for a few moments, and then, under his hand, the door opened,
and he looked out. There was a short and rather wide hall, and at the
far end was a door which instantly suggested itself as the one leading
to the street. And that was not all. At the door, holding it open about
an inch, was old Bohlmier, and he was furtively peering out.

"He was the party who turned off the light," said Bat, as he drew the
door to and stood waiting.

In a little while there was a faint click which told that the street
door had been closed; then Bat heard the old Swiss enter the room
adjoining--the one in which the athlete had seen him from above. With
careful steps Scanlon went down the short hall, and slipped back the
lock. Peering out he saw a narrow street, and a taxi standing at the
curb. In this was Nora Cavanaugh, and beside it stood Big Slim. Scanlon
saw Nora perfectly, for the street light shone full upon her; once more
she was smiling, once more her head was thrown back in amusement. The
attitude of the burglar was threatening, his big bony hands clutched the
door frame of the cab, and his shoulders were rounded doggedly.

"Laugh!" Bat heard him say, "laugh all you like. But as long as you do
the rest of it, I don't care. So, get busy, and I'll be waiting to hear
from you."

With this he stepped back and the girl signaled the driver. The cab
started away and Big Slim turned toward the door. Swiftly Bat left it,
and was back in the room from which he had entered the hall; dropping
quietly