"Upstairs! To the roof!" he cried.
Followed by the rest of the party, he sprinted up the stairway which opened before him. Just as he reached the top his way was barred by an Amazonian figure in a green bathrobe.
"Who th' divil arre yer?" demanded an outraged voice.
"Police," snapped Bolton. "One side!"
"Wan side, is it?" demanded the fiery haired Amazon. "The divil a stip ye go until ye till me ye'er bizness. Phwat th' divil arre yer doin' in th' house uv a rayspictable female at this hour uv th' marnin'?"
"One side, I tell you!" cried Bolton as he strove to push past the figure that barred the way.
"Oh, ye wud, wud yer, little mann?" demanded the Irishwoman as she grasped Bolton by the collar and shook him as a terrier does a rat. Dr. Bird stifled his laughter with difficulty and seized her by the arm. With a heave on Bolton's collar she raised him from the ground and swung him against the Doctor, knocking him off his feet.
"Hilp! P'lice! Murther!" she screamed at the top of her voice.
"Damn it, woman, we're on—"