going to be beaten now I’d got so far.
I heard heavy feet pounding down the stairs, and I broke into a run. The P.M. room was too far away. I knew I couldn’t make it in time. I pushed open the first door I came to, stepped into a small, coldly furnished office. Again I put Miss Wonderly on the floor. She opened her eyes, struggled to sit up, but I pushed her back.
“Stay still, honey,” I said. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
It gave me a hell of a bang to see the expression in her eyes when she recognized me. She caught her breath, but she lay still, watched me.
I jumped to the door, knelt and peered into the passage. Four guards, one with a Thompson, were staring down at the bodies in the passage. I picked off the guy with the Thompson. The others made a frantic dash for the stairs, disappeared.
I grabbed Miss Wonderly, kissed her, and whizzed down the passage with her. I reached the bend as someone opened up with a chopper. One of the slugs nicked the heel of my shoe. I stumbled, made an effort, rounded the bend.
I burst into the P.M. room, closed the door.
Maxison was crouched against the wall, his face livid with fright. He gave a gulping gasp when he saw me, but he didn’t or couldn’t move.
I ran over to the coffin, swung Miss Wonderly off my shoulder and into the box in one movement. She sat up, her face stiff, her eyes bewildered.
“Lie down, and don’t make a sound,” I panted.