The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 1 — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAJOR’S PLOT. 161 His authoritative manner, and the brass buttons on his coat frightened Mrs. Lee into silence. She led the way upstairs, followed by Chief Burns, Major Penrose, and three officers. -‘There,’’ she said, pausing before a door, ‘‘ this is Mr. Drummond’s room. ’’ Chief Burns quietly turned the handle, but the door would not open. ‘* Locked on the inside,’’ he muttered. ‘‘ Where do the windows of this room open, madame? ’’ ‘On a shed,’’ replied Mrs. Lee, in a shaky voice, ‘‘ and that slopes close to the ground. ‘then comes the yard, and behind that the alley.’’ ‘“Fexactly,’’ said the chief, ‘‘I see the situation. No doubt my men are in the yard by this time, so here goes.’’ He tapped sharply on the panel of the door, and as no answer came, re- peated the summons three or four times. ‘“He can’t be asleep,’’ said Major Penrose; ‘‘he is such a desperate scoundrel that I half fear he will get away from us yet.’’ ‘Then the door must be broken into,’’ rejoined the chief. ‘‘ Now, madame,’’ he added, turning to Mrs. Lee, ‘‘ this is no place for you. Go down stairs and remain there. Whatever damage we may do to your house shall be paid for.’’ The landlady was only too glad to avail herself of this permission. She placed the candle on the floor and quickly disappeared. Chief Burns placed his ear to the keyhole of the door and listened intently for a moment or two. ‘By Jove, I Lear a noise of some sort,’’ he whispered. ‘‘ Both together now, major. Here goes. One! Two!’’ With three. both men dashed themselves heavily against the door, and it gave way, lock, hinges, and all falling with a crash inside. Weapons were drawn instantly as one of the officers held aloft the candle, but it shone only on anempty room. ‘There stood the bed, rumpled and dis- heveled, but its occupant had flown. ‘““The window !’’ shouted Chief Burns. ‘‘Look! It is open. The scoundrel must have dropped right into the hands of my men. No doubt they have the nippers on him by this time.’’ A loud shout, coming that instant from the direction of the yard, seemed to confirm the chief's words. He ran to the window and dropped lightly down on the shec., followed by Major Penrose and the officers. Just as the last man gained the sloping roof two or three revolvers cracked sharply from the yard, and some one called out, ‘‘ There he goes, Burns. Don’t let him get away.”’ Major Penrose turned and glanced up at the rear wall of the house. Dawn was just breaking, and in the dim light a figure was visible, crawling painfully up the water spout. It was Eugene Maillard; and even as the chief and Major Penrose watched him, the daring villain gained the edge of the flat roof, pulled himself on top and disappeared, apparently untouched by the bullets that had pattered around him. The major was beside himself with rage and disappointment. (x) CoOMmicsoolks 5}