“I’ll follow Bob. If he makes it I can.”
“Humph! This party’s too big now. You ought to have kept out o’ this.”
There was a knock at the front door and Murdock pointed an accusing finger at Burgess.
“Either set down and play it out or skip!” He jerked his head toward the stairs. The music ceased at the knock. “Nellie, what’s the answer?”
Murdock apparently deferred to Nellie in the crisis; and as the knock was repeated she said:
“I’ll get Bob and this gentleman out. Don’t try to hold the door—let ’em in.”
Before he knew what was happening, Burgess was at the top of the stairway, with the girl close at his heels. She opened a door into a dark room.
“Bob!” she called.
“All right!” whispered Drake huskily.
Near the floor Burgess marked Bob’s position by a match the man struck noiselessly, shielding it in the curve of his hand at arm’s length. It was visible for a second only. Nellie darted lightly here and there in the dark. A drawer closed softly; Burgess heard the swish of her jacket as she snatched it up and drew it on. The girl undoubtedly knew what she was about. Then a slim, cold hand clutched his in a reassuring clasp. Another person had entered the room and the doorkey clicked.