discovery by those inside the house. But from the fire-escape only
a window-pane would separate him from the prisoner, and though the
bars would keep him at arm's-length, he might at least speak with
her, and assure her that her call for help had carried. He grasped
the sides of the ladder and dropped to the platform. As he had
already seen that the window farthest to the left was barricaded
with trunks, he disregarded it, and passed quickly to the two
others. Behind both of these, linen shades were lowered, but, to
his relief, he found that in the middle window the lower sash, as
though for ventilation, was slightly raised, leaving an opening of
a few inches. Kneeling on the gridiron platform of the fire-escape,
and pressing his face against the bars, he brought his eyes level
with this opening. Owing to the lowered window-blind, he could see
nothing in the room, nor could he distinguish any sound until above
the drip and patter of the rain there came to him the peaceful
ticking of a clock and the rattle of coal falling to the fender.
But of any sound that was human there was none. That the room was
empty, and that the girl was in the front of the house was
possible, and the temptation to stretch his hand through the bars
and lift the blind was almost compelling. If he did so, and the
girl were inside, she might make an outcry, or, guarding her, there
might be an attendant, who at once would sound the alarm. The risk
was evident, but, encouraged by the silence, Ford determined to
take the chance. Slipping one hand between the bars he caught the
end of the blind, and, pulling it gently down, let the spring draw
it upward. Through an opening of six inches the room lay open
before him. He saw a door leading to another room, at one side an
iron cot, and in front of the coal fire, facing him, a girl seated
in a deep arm-chair. A book lay on her knees, and she was intently
reading.