"Ajar she is," says I, proppin' it open with a 'phone directory.

"'Tis well," says the Doc. "Now leave us."

I was goin' to, anyway; for at exactly noon I had a date somewhere
else. There was a window openin' off the bondroom that was screened by
a pile of cases, and out from that was an iron fire escape runnin'
along the whole court side on our floor. I'd picked that window out as
bein' a good place to scout from. And I couldn't have been better
placed; for I saw just who I was expectin' the minute he heaves in
sight. I'd like to have had one glimpse, though, of Old Hickory and
the Doc and Piddie while they was watchin' and listenin' and holdin'
their breath inside there. But I'm near enough when the time comes, to
hear that chorus of gasps that's let loose at twelve-twenty-six exact.

"Ha!" says the Doc. "As I told you--a red rose!"

"Well, I'll be slam-whizzled!" explodes Old Hickory.

"But--but where did it come from?" pants Piddie. "Who--who could
have----"

And that's just when little Willie, after creepin' cautious along the
fire escape, gives his unsuspectin' victim the snappy elbow tackle from
behind and shoves him into view.

"Here's your desperado!" says I, givin' my man the persuadin' knee in
the small of his back. "Ah, scramble in there, Old Top! You ain't
goin' to be hurt. In with you now!"