taken certain precautions, of which one had been to secure for
himself a swift and silent egress whenever necessity might arise.

Keys to both the front and back doors were in his possession, and
the passage window on the ground floor he could at need lift
bodily from its frame, leaving ample room for passage either in
or out. This was the method of departure he chose now since he
did not know but that the doors might be watched.

Lifting the window down, he swung himself outside, replacing behind
him the window so that it appeared to be as firmly in position as
ever, but could be removed again almost instantly should need arise.

Once outside he listened again, and though at first everything was
quiet, presently he heard again a cautious step going to and fro
at a little distance.

Crouching in the shadow of the house, he listened intently, and
soon was able to assure himself that there was but one footstep
and that he would have only one individual to deal with.

"It won't be Deede Dawson's," he thought to himself, "but it may
very likely be some one waiting for him to return. I must find out
who--and why."

Slipping through the darkness of the night, with whose shadows he
seemed to melt and mingle, as though he were but another one of
them, he moved quickly in the direction of these cautious footsteps
he had listened to.