As he drew near her Ruth could bear the suspense no longer. She saw him drag out a bag from under Miss Sallie’s head and could not refrain from uttering a low cry. It was enough. The man dashed the lantern to the ground and made a rush for the door.
There was no time for Ruth and Barbara to plan. They were only girls; but as the man ran toward them in the darkness, striking out fiercely, Barbara seized one of his legs, Ruth the other. Together, the three of them went down in the blackness. The girls had not the robber’s strength, but they had taken him by surprise and they meant to fight it out.
He kicked violently to free himself, then turned and tore at Barbara’s hands, but she clung to him. He raised the butt end of his pistol and struck with all his force. As the blow fell with a terrific thud, Barbara relaxed her hold, and tumbled over in the darkness.
By this time Miss Sallie realized what was happening. Yet, in the darkness, she could only cry for help, and moan: “Let him alone, girls! Let him go!”
With one leg free it seemed a simple task to get away. The noises were arousing the sleeping hotel guests. Another minute, and the burglar knew that he would be lost! With a violent wrench he tore himself away, and started down the hall, Ruth after him. If she could delay him a few seconds help would come!
The outside door leading from their private hall into the main one was nearly closed; in reaching to open it there was a second’s delay. Ruth flung herself forward, caught the man’s coat and clung desperately, but the burglar was too clever for her. In less than a second he slipped out of his coat, ran quickly to the window leading to the fire escape, and was gone! When assistance arrived, Ruth was standing in the front hall holding a man’s coat in her hand.
“Oh, come!” she said in horror. “A light, please! Aunt Sallie has been robbed, and I am afraid Barbara has been killed!”
Ten or twelve people came running down the hall. The hotel proprietor and several servants made for the fire escape. Grace and Mollie, clad in kimonos, had joined Ruth in the hall, and were shaking with terror. Neither of them had spoken a word, but Grace silently handed Ruth her bath robe.
They turned and the three girls followed the rescuers, who were hastening toward Aunt Sallie’s room. That elderly woman had already risen, struck a light and was in her kimono.
Barbara was leaning against a chair, white as a sheet, but unhurt!