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Above the wall from the yard beyond rose a ladder； and； face down upon
the roof； awry and sprawling。 were the motionless forms of two men。
Their shining capes and heavy helmets proclaimed their calling。
〃The police！〃 exclaimed Ford。 〃And the shots we thought were for
those in the house were for THEM！ This is what has happened；〃 he
whispered eagerly： 〃 Prothero attacked Cuthbert。 Cuthbert gets away and
goes to the police。 He tells them you are here a prisoner； that I am here
probably a prisoner； and of the attack upon himself。 The police try to make
an entrance from the streetthat was the first shot we heardand are
driven back； then they try to creep in from the yard； and those poor devils
were killed。〃
As he spoke a sudden silence had fallen； a silence as startling as had
been the shout of warning。 Some fresh attack upon the house which the
prisoners could not see； but which must be visible to those in the houses
opposite was going forward。
〃Perhaps they are on the roof；〃' whispered Ford joyfully。 〃They'll be
through the trap in a minute； and you'll be free！〃
〃No！〃 said the girl。
She also spoke in a whisper； as though she feared Prothero might hear
her。 And with her hand she again pointed。 Cautiously above the top of the
ladder appeared the head and shoulders of a man。 He wore a policeman's
helmet； but； warned by the fate of his comrades； he came armed。
Balancing himself with his left hand on the rung of the ladder； he raised
the other and pointed a revolver。 It was apparently at the two prisoners；
and Miss Dale sprang to one side。
〃Standstill！〃 commanded Ford。 〃He knows who YOU are！ You heard
that yell when they saw you？ They know you are the prisoner； and they are
glad you're still alive。 That officer is aiming at the window BELOW us。
He's after the men who murdered his mates。〃
From the window directly beneath them came the crash of a rifle； and
from the top of the ladder the revolver of the police officer blazed in the
darkness。 Again the rifle crashed； and the man on the ladder jerked his
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hands above his head and pitched backward。 Ford looked into the face of
the girl and found her eyes filled with horror。
〃Where is my uncle； Pearsall？〃 she faltered。 〃He has two riflesfor
shooting in Scotland。 Was that a rifle that〃 Her lips refused to finish the
question。
〃It was a rifle；〃 Ford stammered； 〃but probably Prothero〃
Even as he spoke the voice of the Jew rose in a shriek from the floor
below them； but not from the window below them。 The sound was from
the front room opening on Sowell Street。 In the awed silence that had
suddenly fallen his shrieks carried sharply。 They were more like the snarls
and ravings of an animal than the outcries of a man。
〃Take THAT！〃 he shouted； with a flood of oaths； 〃and THAT； and
THAT！〃
Each word was punctuated by the report of his automatic； and to the
amazement of Ford； was instantly answered from Sowell Street by a
scattered volley of rifle and pistol shots。
〃This isn't a fight；〃 he cried； 〃it's a battle！〃
With Miss Dale at his side； he ran into the front room； and； raising the
blind； appeared at the window。 And instantly； as at the other end of the
house； there was； at sight of the woman's figure； a tumult of cries； a shout
of warning； and a great roar of welcome。 From beneath them a man ran
into the deserted street； and in the glare of the gas…lamp Ford saw his
white； upturned face。 He was without a hat and his head was circled by a
bandage。 But Ford recognized Cuthbert。 〃That's Ford！〃 he cried； pointing。
〃And the girl's with him！〃 He turned to a group of men crouching in the
doorway of the next house to the one in which Ford was imprisoned。 〃The
girl's alive！〃 he shouted。
〃The girl's alive！〃 The words were caught up and flung from window
to window； from house…top to house…top； with savage； jubilant cheers。
Ford pushed Miss Dale forward。
〃Let them see you；〃 he said； 〃and you will never see a stranger sight。〃
Below them； Sowell Street； glistening with rain and snow； lay empty；
but at either end of it； held back by an army of police； were black masses
of men； and beyond them more men packed upon the tops of taxicabs and
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The Lost House
hansoms； stretching as far as the street…lamps showed； and on the roofs
shadowy forms crept cautiously from chimney to chimney； and in the
windows of darkened rooms opposite； from behind barricades of
mattresses and upturned tables； rifles appeared stealthily； to be lost in a
sudden flash of flame。 And with these flashes were others that came from
windows and roofs with the report of a bursting bomb； and that； on the
instant； turned night into day； and then left the darkness more dark。
Ford gave a cry of delight。
〃They're taking flash…light photographs〃 he cried jubilantly。 〃Well
done； you Pressmen！〃 The instinct of the reporter became compelling。 〃If
they're alive to develop those photographs to…night；〃 he exclaimed eagerly；
〃Cuthbert will send them by special messenger； in time to catch the
MAURETANIA and the REPUBLIC will have them by Sunday。 I mayn't
be alive to see them；〃 he added regretfully； 〃but what a feature for the
Sunday supplement！〃
As the eyes of the two prisoners became accustomed to the darkness；
they saw that the street was not； as at first they had supposed； entirely
empty。 Directly below them in the gutter； where to approach it was to
invite instant death from Prothero's pistol； lay the dead body of a
policeman； and at the nearer end of the street； not fifty yards from them；
were three other prostrate forms。 But these forms were animate； and alive
to good purpose。 From a public…house on the corner a row of yellow lamps
showed them clearly。 Stretched on pieces of board； and mats
commandeered from hallways and cabs； each of the three men lay at full
length； nursing a rifle。 Their belted gray overcoats； flat； visored caps； and
the set of their shoulders marked them for soldiers。
〃For the love of Heaven！〃 exclaimed Ford incredulously； 〃they've
called out the Guards！〃
As unconcernedly as though facing the butts at a rifle…range； the three
sharp…shooters were firing point…blank at the windows from which
Prothero and Pearsall were waging their war to the death upon the
instruments of law and order。 Beside them； on his knees in the snow； a
young man with the silver hilt of an officer's sword showing through the
slit in his greatcoat； was giving commands； and at the other end of the
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street； a brother officer in evening dress was directing other sharp…shooters；
bending over them like the coach of a tug…of…war team； pointing with
white…gloved fingers。 On the side of the street from which Prothero was
firing； huddled in a doorway； were a group of officials； inspectors of police；
fire chiefs in brass helmets； more officers of the Guards in bear…skins； and；
wrapped in a fur coat； the youthful Horne Secretary。 Ford saw him wave
his arm； and at his bidding the cordon of police broke； and slowly forcing
its way through the mass of people came a huge touring…car； its two
blazing eyes sending before it great shafts of light。 The driver of the car
wasted no time in taking up his position。 Dashing half…way down the street；
he as swiftly backed the automobile over the gutter and up on the sidewalk；
so that the lights in front fell full on the door of No。 40。 Then； covered by
the fire from the roofs； he sprang to the lamps and tilted them until they
threw their shafts into the windows of the third story。 Prothero's hiding…
place was now as clearly exposed as though it were held in the circ