"It's that big boob that's taken eleven, on the third," said one. "He looks like a scarecrow. What does he mean by hanging around like that, frightening people?"
"I'm going to go to Mrs. Dolan," said the other, energetically. "A body can't come through these halls any more without a body-guard."
Then, for the first time, they caught sight of Bat, and again the squeaks sounded.
"It's all right," nodded the big athlete. "Don't be afraid."
"My goodness! ain't it awful!" cried one of the young women. "I'll be scared stiff all night."
They scurried down the hall and Bat heard the street door bang after them.
"Eleven, on the third." Scanlon considered this. "That must mean room eleven, on the third floor. And so," a little wrinkle of wonderment appearing between his eyes, "the slim one has taken a room here, has he?"
He glanced up the stairs; the shadows had disappeared from the wall, and he could hear a scuffling of feet as of some one moving upward.
"They're on the next flight," he said. "So I guess this one's all right to negotiate now."
Quietly, he ascended the stairs. The hall on the second floor was deserted; overhead he could hear the tread of the two men as they passed along; so, without hesitation, he mounted to that level. As he stood on the landing with only a turn between him and the hall, he heard a door close.