ank could hear them tear and haul at
Durkin as they dragged him down the hall--just where, she could not
distinguish.

She ran over to Keenan and shook him roughly. He looked at her a
little stupidly, but did not seem able to respond to her entreaties.

"Quick!" she whispered, "or it will be too late!"

She flung her pitcher of water in his face and over his head, and
poured brandy from her little leather-covered pocket-flask down his
throat.

That seemed to revive him, for he sat up on the carpeted floor,
mumblingly, and glowered at her. Then he remembered; and as she bathed
his bruised head with a wet towel he caught at her hand foolishly.

"Have we lost them?" he asked huskily, childishly.

"No, they are here! See, intact, and safe. But you must take them
back. Neither of us can go through that hall with them!"

"Why not?"

"We're watched--we're prisoners here!"

"Then what'll we do?" he asked weakly, for he was not yet himself.

"You must take them, and get out of this room. There is only one way!"

"What is it?"

"You see this rope. It's meant for a fire-escape. You must let
yourself down by it. You'll find yourself in a court, filled with
empty barrels. That leads into a bake-shop--you can see the oven
lights and smell the bread. Give the man ten _lira_, and he's sure to
let you pass. Can you do it? Do you understand?"

"Yes," he said, still a little bewildered. "But where will I meet you?"

She pondered a moment.

"In Trieste, a week from tomorrow. But can you manage the rope?"

He laughed a little. "I ought to! I've been through a poolroom raid
or two, over home!"

"In Trieste then, a week from morrow!"

She handed him her brandy-flask.

"You may need it," she explained. He was on his feet by this time,
struggling to pull himself together.

"But you can't face that alone," he remonstrated, with a thumb-jerk
toward the hall. "I won't see you touched by those damned rats!"

"'Ssssh!" she warned him. "They can't do anything to me now, except
search me for those papers!"

"But even that!"

"I'll wait until I see you're safely down, then I'll run for the
stairs. They've shut off all the lights outside, in this wing, but if
they in any way attempt to ill-treat me, before I get to the main
corridor, I'll scream for help!"

"But even to search you"--began Keenan again.

"Yes, I know!" she answered evenly. "It's not pleasant. But I'll face
it"--she turned her eyes f