As she started out by the convenient side door into the alley, the officer laid a hand on her shoulder.
"This way, young woman."
She looked at him a moment.
"You'd better go out the other door," he said.
She climbed the steps behind him, wondering why one door would not do as well as another. She had always gone out that side door before. When they were up-stairs, passing the sergeant's room, he touched her again.
"Hold on," he said.
"What do you want?" she asked in surprise,
"I guess you'd better stay here."
"Why?" she exclaimed. Her surprise had become a great fear. He made no reply, and pushed her into the sergeant's room. Then he whistled into a tube--some one answered. "Come down," he commanded. Presently a woman appeared, a woman with gray hair, in a blue gingham gown something like a nurse's uniform, with a metal badge on her full breast.
"Matron," said the officer, "take this girl in charge."