It was several hours later before they had the opportunity of putting their plan to the test.
“Quick! Here comes some one!” whispered Shirley.
She took her stand behind the door and Mabel joined her there. A key turned in the lock, and the door swung slowly inward. The girls were out of sight behind the door.
Mrs. Sebastian, being unable to see them, advanced into the room with a startled exclamation, and looked hurriedly about. Seizing a moment when the woman was looking the other way, Shirley, closely followed by Mabel, dashed from her place of concealment and out the door.
Mabel was just disappearing through the door when Mrs. Sebastian wheeled suddenly about and caught sight of her. The woman sprang forward with a cry, but Mabel, in passing, had seized the knob of the door and pulled it to after her.
It was the work of an instant to turn the key in the lock, and Mrs. Sebastian was safe in the girls’ recent prison.
“Now what?” said Shirley when Mabel had come up to her.
From the room they had just quitted a series of blows were rained on the door, and Mrs. Sebastian’s voice could be heard calling for help.
“No one knows she’s in there so if the disturbance is heard they’ll think it is us,” declared Mabel. “If we are silent and careful now, we may be able to get out.”
Shirley advanced cautiously and peered into the next room. Then she returned to Mabel.