He tried Mrs. Vernon's door, to find it locked.
"Mrs. Vernon!" he repeated. "Mrs. Vernon!"
"What is it, Robert?" came sleepily from inside.
"Get up, quickly! The house is on fire!"
"On fire!" came with a gasp. "Oh, Robert!"
"Open the door and I will help you to get downstairs," went on the youth.
There was a hasty movement within the apartment and then the key turned in the lock. Robert threw the door open, to behold Mrs. Vernon standing before him, clad in a morning wrapper and her slippers.
Having just roused up from a sound sleep, she was bewildered and gazed at him questioningly.
"Come, there is no time to lose," he said, and took hold of her arm.
"My jewels and money----" she began, and pointed to the dresser. With one clutch he caught up the jewel case and her money box and placed them under his arm.