"Somebody on the roof is asking for you, chief!" the man with the ax called down.
The chief hurried up the steps. "Well, who is it?" he demanded.
"This is the Black Star. Can't you recognize my voice? Still practicing violence, I see, and this time on a door!"
"Well, what do you want?" the chief cried. "Do you want to give yourself up?"
"Certainly not, my dear chief. I just wanted to let you know that I was here."
"And we're going to get you!" the chief cried. "If it is necessary we'll get you with a gun! If you start using that vapor stuff when we get the door open, my men will shoot. Understand that? I'll give you one minute to surrender and open the door!"
"Why on earth should I do such a thing as that?" the Black Star wanted to know.
"Because you are at the end of your rope, that's why!" the chief replied. "If you try to go down a fire escape, you'll be plugged. And that's the only way you can get off the roof."
"I have no intention of going down a fire escape," the Black Star replied. "I give you my word of honor—or dishonor, if you prefer it that way—that I shall descend no fire escape to-night. Does that satisfy you?"
"Are you going to give yourself up?"