Under the circumstances, Bill did not flinch in his determination to learn what was going on behind that door!
Bill put his ear to the door—and at once heard a faint tick-tick, as well as a muffled voice. Slowly Bill felt the door for the knob and to his surprise he found there was none!
“Entrance by signal only!” instantly decided Bill.
But how was he to get in without it?
His eyes were now more accustomed to the gloom. He looked about him, hoping to find a window or some outlet that might lead to the barred room.
Farther down the corridor, to his right, he saw a stairway—or what appeared to be a stairway. He walked toward it, always bearing in mind to be extremely careful.
He climbed up one flight without mishap. On this floor, the feeling of desertion and forlorn desolation grew deeper. Bill could barely suppress a shiver.
Suddenly a rat scampered across the floor.
“Phew!” ejaculated Bill, “this is some place!”
He noticed a thin ray of daylight a short distance from him. Bill at once decided to discover its origin. A moment later he saw that the light flowed from the cracks of a door.