A less courageous fellow might have been glad to take this opportunity to get out the front door and so to safety. But this idea did not enter Joe’s head. He had come here to get information about the gambling ring, and to abandon the quest was the thing furthest from his thoughts.
From the floor above he could still hear the murmur of voices, growing louder at times in a manner that suggested a quarrel. Impatient to learn what was going on, Joe made for the stairs and ascended them cautiously, treading warily to avoid making a noise on the creaking boards. At length he reached the upper landing and paused to take stock of his surroundings.
He found himself on a small square landing, from which doors gave into adjoining rooms. The sound of excited voices came from a room to the left of the stairs, and Joe edged close to this until he could make out what was being said within.
But he was just a few minutes too late. Whatever subject had been under discussion had apparently been settled, for there came a scraping of chairs, and before Joe could move the door was thrown open, leaving him in plain sight of those in the room.
There was a chorus of startled exclamations, and then those in the room made a concerted rush for Joe. He turned to make for the stairs, but found that avenue of escape cut off by two rough looking men dressed in sweaters and caps, who had ascended so quietly that Joe had no inkling of their approach until he saw them stepping on to the landing.
Fairly cornered, Joe realized that his only chance lay in fighting his way out, and he had faith in the theory that the attacker has an advantage. With a shout he hurled himself at the two men who had just come up the stairs, and who had stopped at the landing, uncertain as to what was going on. His rush had the power and speed of a stampeding buffalo, and in spite of their bulk the two newcomers could not bar his path. One reeled back from a stunning blow on the jaw, while the other staggered aside as Joe’s elbow caught him in the pit of the stomach. Before him the path to the front door lay clear, and he would have made it but for an unlucky accident.
As the second man reeled and fell, his foot projected out over the top step, and as Joe started to leap downward he tripped over the sprawling leg, staggered wildly for a brief moment, and then crashed head first down the steep stairs.