“Middleton,” whispered Harry, “I’ve come to warn you. The police are coming. I am a friend. We must get out of here.”
“The police?” questioned Middleton. “Let them come. I’m ready to give myself up. I’ve been afraid to go to them. I hope they’ll be here soon.”
“Come,” said Harry.
He tried to help Middleton to rise. The young man floundered back helpless. Harry realized that the fellow had reached a state of complete nervous exhaustion. It would be impossible to get him out of here.
But that was not necessary. Harry had another plan — it involved risk, but he was willing to take it. In a moment, he could tell if it were practical.
“Don’t make any noise,” he warned.
Harry extinguished the light. He raised the shade beside Middleton, and peered into the darkness. He barely distinguished the outline of a roof over the back porch.
Leaning out, Harry looked upward. The top of Middleton’s window projected. Above it was the flat roof of the building. Yes, the plan was feasible.
Harry, strong and agile, knew that he could clamber above the porch and hoist himself to the housetop in less than half a minute. The porch roof spread, and the buildings in the rear were dark. He could make his escape free from observation.
Once on the housetop, the rest was easy. There were several houses in the row; this one was at the end. A flight across the roofs and a clean get-away. All while Cardona and his invaders were looking for Middleton!