When London Sleeps — page 214: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

FOR DEAR LIFE’S SAKE. 209 ‘Listen, Queenie,’’? she cried, exctiedly, ‘‘don’t you hear a funny noise ?”’ “It’s nothing, dear,’? answered Queenie, reassur- ingly, ‘only one of the strange noises of the night. Come, now we’ll go to bed.”’ ‘No! no!’ Hark, there it is again,”’ And then Queenie did hearit. It was a queer, crackling sound, and proceeded from the hall out- side. Asshe was about to investigate a red gleam shone froin beneath the door. She started back with a cry of dread and horror. It was fire! Rodney Haynes had set fire to the house! Catching Leila by the hand, she rushed to the door and tried it. It was locked on the outside. Oh, for strength to break it down, but that she, a frail girl, did not possess. Her foot struck against the pistol she had dropped upon the floor, and this gave her an idea. She caught up the weapon and fired it at close range at the lock. The shot told. The lock was shattered into a score of pieces. Queenie pulled open the door, but only to close it even more quickly. ‘The hall was a mass of flames, Like an animal caught in a trap, she glanced wildly about for means of escape. The windows were barred. " What David had intended as a means of protection were likely to prove exactly the contrary. The fire was gaining Seana The menacing scarlet glare was growing brighter and brighter and the roar of the flames louder and louder. | “God help us! God help us!’ she moaned despair- ingly. \@ fe) =) ichooks.co