[Penny huddled against the wall, watching fearfully.] Her father and the reporters outnumbered their opponents by one man, but the Hoods were all strong, powerful fellows who fought desperately. A chair crashed against the lamp, shattering it. In the resulting darkness, she no longer could see what was happening.
Suddenly a figure broke away from the general tangle of bodies and darted toward the circular stairway. For a moment Penny believed that he must be one of the reporters, then she saw that the man wore a hood over his face.
“The Master!” she thought, chills racing down her spine. “He’s trying to get away, and I’ve got to stop him!”
CHAPTER
24
TIMELY HELP
As the black-robed man started up the stairway, Penny attempted to block his path. Failing to trip him, she seized his arms and held fast.
“Out of my way!” the man cried, giving her a hard push.
Penny clung tightly and struggled to reach the hood which covered his face.
Suddenly, the man jerked free and darted on up the steep, circular stairway. Pursuing him, Penny was able to seize the long flowing black robe, only to have it tear loose in her hands.
Gaining the first landing, midway to the belfry, the man did not hesitate. Swinging his legs through an open window, he leaped to the ground twenty feet below.
“He’ll be killed!” Penny thought.