her　eyes　…　and　behind　her　they　pounded　on　the　door；　and　there　came
  a　burst　of　oaths；　and　in　front　of　her　the　Adventurer　was　smiling
  gravely　as　he　covered　Danglar　with　Danglar's　own　revolver；　and
  Danglar；　as　though　dazed　and　half　stunned　from　the　blows　he　had
  received；　rocked　unsteadily　upon　his　feet。　　And　then　her　eyes
  widened　a　little。　　The　pounding　on　the　door；　the　shouts；　the　noise；
  was　beginning　to　arouse　what　inmates　there　were　in　the　tenement；　and
  there　wasn't　an　instant　to　lose　…　but　the　Adventurer　now　was　calmly
  gathering　up；　to　the　last　one；　and　pocketing　them；　the　banknotes
  with　which　Danglar　had　baited　his　trap。　　And　as　he　crammed　the　money
  into　his　pockets；　he　spoke　to　her；　with　a　curious　softness；　a　great；
  strange　gentleness　in　his　voice：
  〃I　owe　you　my　life；　Miss　Gray。　　That　was　a　wonderful　shot。　　You
  knocked　the　revolver　from　his　hand　without　even　grazing　his　fingers。
  A　very　wonderful　shot；　and　…　will　you　let　me　say　it？　…　you　are　a
  very　wonderful　woman。〃
  〃Oh；　quick！〃　she　whispered　wildly。　　〃I　am　afraid　this　door　will　not
  hold。〃
  〃There　is　the　window；　and　the　fire　escape；　so　our　friend　here　was
  good　enough　to　inform　me；〃　said　the　Adventurer；　as　he　composedly
  pocketed　the　last　dollar。　　〃Will　you　open　the　window；　Miss　Gray；　if
  you　please？　　I　am　afraid　I　hit　Mr。　Danglar　a　little　ungently；　and
  as　he　is　still　somewhat　groggy；　I　fancy　he　will　need　a　little
  assistance。　　I　imagine〃　…　he　caught　Danglar　suddenly　by　the　collar
  of　his　coat　as　Rhoda　Gray　ran　to　the　window　and　flung　it　up；　and
  rushed　the　man　unceremoniously　across　the　room　…〃　I　imagine　it　would
  be　a　mistake　to　leave　him　behind。　　He　might　open　the　door；　or　even
  be　unpleasant　enough　to　throw　something　down　on　us　from　above；　also
  he　should　serve　us　very　well　as　a　hostage。　　Will　you　go　first；
  please；　Miss　Gray？〃
  She　climbed　quickly　over　the　sill　to　the　iron　platform。　　Danglar
  was　dragged　through　by　the　Adventurer；　mumbling；　and　evidently　still
  in　a　half…dazed　condition。　　Windows　were　opening　here　and　there。
  》From　back　inside　the　room；　the　blows　rained　more　heavily　upon　the
  door　…　and　now　there　came　the　rip　and　rend　of　wood；　as　though　a
  panel　had　crashed　in。
  〃Hurry；　please；　Miss　Gray！〃　prompted　the　Adventurer。
  It　was　dark；　almost　too　dark　to　see　her　footing。　　She　felt　her　way
  down。　　It　was　only　one　story　above　the　ground；　and　it　did　not　take
  long；　but　it　seemed　hours　since　she　had　fired　that　shot；　though　she
  knew　the　time　had　been　measured　by　scarcely　more　than　a　minute。　　And
  now；　on　the　lower　platform；　waiting　for　that　queer；　double；　twisting
  shadow　of　the　two　men　to　join　her；　she　heard　the　Adventurers　s　voice
  ring　out　sharply：
  〃This　is　your　chance；　Danglar！　　I　didn't　waste　the　time　to　bring
  you　along　because　it　afforded　me　any　amusement。　　They've　found　their
  heads　at　last；　and　gone　to　the　next　window；　instead　of　wasting　time
  on　that　door。　　They　can't　reach　the　fire　escape　there；　but　if　they
  fire　a　single　shot　…　you　go　out！　　You'd　better　tell　them　so　…　and
  tell　them　quick！〃
  And　then　Danglar's　voice　shrieked　out　in　sudden；　for　God's　sake；
  don't　fire！〃
  They　were　all　on　the　lower　platform　together　now。　　The　Adventurer
  was　pressing　the　muzzle　of　his　revolver　into　the　small　of　Danglar's
  back；　and　was　still　supporting　the　man　by　the　collar　of　his　coat。
  〃I　think；〃　said　the　Adventurer　abruptly；　〃that　we　can　now　dispense
  with　Mr。　Danglar's　services；　and　I　am　sure　a　little　cool　night　air
  out　here　on　the　fire　escape　will　do　him　good。　　Miss　Gray　…　would　you
  mind？　…　there's　a　pair　of　handcuffs　in　my　left…hand　coat　pocket。〃
  Handcuffs！　　She　could　have　laughed　out　idiotically。　　Handcuffs！
  They　seemed　the　most　incongruous　things　in　the　world　for　the
  Adventurer　to　have；　and　…　　She　felt　mechanically　in　his　pocket；　and
  handed　them　to　him。
  There　was　a　click　as　a　cuff　was　snapped　over　Danglar's　wrist；
  another　as　the　other　cuff　was　snapped　shut　around　the　iron
  hand…railing　of　the　fire　escape。　　The　act　seemed　to　arouse　Danglar；
  both　mentally　and　physically。　　He　tore　and　wrenched　at　the　steel
  links　now；　and　burst　suddenly；　raving；　into　oaths。
  〃Hold　your　tongue；　Danglar！〃　ordered　the　Adventurer　in　cold　menace；
  and　as　the　other；　cowed；　obeyed；　the　Adventurer　swung　himself　over
  the　platform　and　dropped　to　the　ground。　　〃Come；　Miss　Gray。　　Drop！
  I'll　catch　you！〃　he　called　in　a　low　voice。　　〃One　step　takes　us
  around　the　corner　of　the　tenement　into　the　lane；　and　Mr。　Danglar
  won't　let　them　fire　at　us　before　we　can　make　that　…　when　we　could
  still　fire　at　him！〃
  She　obeyed　him；　swinging　at　arm's…length。　　She　felt　his　hands　fold
  about　her　in　a　firm　grasp　as　she　let　go　her　hold；　and　she　caught　her
  breath　suddenly；　she　did　not　know　why；　and　felt　the　hot　blood　sweep
  her　face　…　and　then　she　was　standing　on　the　ground。
  〃Now！〃　he　whispered。　　〃Together！〃
  They　sped　around　the　corner　of　the　tenement。　　A　yell　from　Danglar
  followed　them。　　An　echoing　yell　from　above　answered　…　and　then　a
  fusillade　of　abortive　shots；　and　the　sound　as　of　boot　heels
  clattering　on　the　iron　rungs　of　the　fire　escape；　and　then；　more
  faintly；　for　they　were　putting　distance　behind　them　as　fast　as　they
  could　run；　an　excited　outburst　of　profanity　and　exclamations。
  〃They　won't　follow！〃　panted　the　Adventurer。　　〃Those　shots　of　theirs
  outdoors　will　have　alarmed　the　police；　and　they'll　try　and　get
  Danglar　free　first。　　It's　lucky　your　shot　inside　wasn't　heard　by
  the　patrolman　on　the　beat。　　I　was　afraid　of　that。　　But　we're　safe
  now　…　from　Danglar's　crowd；　at　least。〃
  But　still　they　ran。　　They　crossed　an　intersecting　street；　and
  continued　on　along　the　lane；　then　swerving　into　the　next　intersecting
  street；　moderated　their　pace　to　a　rapid　walk　…　and　stopped　finally
  only　as　Rhoda　Gray　drew　suddenly　into　the　shadows　of　another
  alley…way；　and　held　out　her　hand。　　They　were　both　safe　now；　as　he
  had　said。　　And　there　were　so　many　reasons　why；　though　her　resolution
  faltered　a　little；　she　should　go　the　rest　of　the　way　alone。　　She
  was　not　sure　that　she　trusted　this　strange　〃gentleman；〃　who　was　a
  thief　with　his　pockets　crammed　even　now　with　the　money　that　had
  lured　him　almost　to　his　death；　but；　too；　she　was　not　altogether　sure
  that　she　distrusted　him。　　But　all　that　was　secondary。　　She　must；　as
  soon　as　she　could；　get　back　to　Gypsy　Nan's　garret。　　Like　that　other
  night；　she　dared　not　take　the　risk　that　Danglar；　by　any　chance；　might
  return　there　…　and　find　her　gone　after　what　had　just　happened。　　The
  man　would　be　beside　himself　with　fury；　suspicious　of　everything
  …and　suspicion　would　be　fatal　in　its　consequences　for　her。　　And　so
  she　must　go。　　And　she　could　not　become　Gypsy　Nan　again　with　the
  Adventurer　looking　on！
  〃We　part　here；〃　she　said　a　little　unsteadily。　　〃Good…night！〃
  〃Oh；　I　say；　Miss　Gray！〃　he　protested　quickly。　　〃You　don't　mean　that！
  Why；　look　here；　I　haven't　had　a　chance　to　tell　you　what　I　think；　or
  what　I　feel；　about　what　you've　done　to…night　…　for　me。〃
  She　shook　her　head。
  〃There　is　nothing　you　need　say；〃　she　answered　quietly。　　〃We　are　only
  quits。　　You　have　done　quite　as　much　for　me。〃
  〃But；　see　here；　Miss　Gray！〃　he　pleaded。　　〃Can't　we　come　to　some
  understanding？　　We　seem　to　have　a　jolly　lot　in　common。　　Is　it　quite
  necessary；　really　necessary；　that　you　should　keep　me　off　at
  arm's…length？　　Couldn't　you　let　down　the　bars　just　a　little？
  Couldn't　you　tell　me；　for　instance；　where　I　could　find　you　in　case
  of　…　real　necessity？〃
  She　shook　her　head　again。
  〃No；〃　she　said。　　〃It　is　impossible。〃
  He　drew　a　little　closer。　　A　sudden　earnestness　deepened　his　voice；
  made　it　rasp　a　little；　as　though　it　were　not　wholly　within　control。
  〃And　suppose；　Miss　Gray；　that　I　refuse　to　leave　you；　or　to　let　you
  go；　now　that　I　have　you　here；　unless　you　give　me　more　of　your
  confidence？　　What　then？〃
  〃The　other　night；〃　she　said　slowly；　〃you　informed　me；　among　other
  things；　that　you　were　a　gentleman。　　I　believed　the　other　things。〃
  He　did　not　answer　for　a　moment　…　and　then　he　smiled　whimsically。
  〃You　score；　Miss　Gray；〃　he　murmured。
  〃Good　night；　then！〃　she　said　again。　　〃I　will　go　by　the　alley　here；
  you　by　the　street。〃
  〃No！　　Wait！〃　he　said　gravely。　　〃If　nothing　will　change　your　mind
  …　and　I　shall　not　be　importunate；　for；　as　we　have　met　three　times
  now　through　the　same　peculiar　chain　of　circumstances；　I　know　we
  shall　meet　again　…　I　have　something　to　tell　you；　before　you　go。
  As　you　already　know；　I　went　to　Gypsy　Nan's　the　night　after　I　first
  saw　you；　because　I　felt　you　needed　help。　　I　went　there　in　the　hope
  that　she　would　know　where　to　find　you；　and；　failing　in　that；　I　left
  a　message　for　you　in　the　hope　that；　since　she　had　tricked　Rorke　in
  your　behalf；　you　would　find　means　of　communicating　with　her　again。
  But　all　that　is　entirely　changed　now。　　Your　participation　in　that
  Hayden…Bond　affair　the　other　night　makes　Gypsy　Nan's　place　the　last
  in　all　New　York　to　which　you　should　go。〃
  Rhoda　Gray　stared　through　the　semi…darkness；　suddenly　startled；
  searching　the　Adventurer's　face。
  〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　demanded　quickly。
  〃Just　this；〃　he　answered。　　〃That　where　before　I　hoped　you　would　go
  there；　I　have　spent　nearly　all　the　time　since　then　in　haunting　the
  vicinity　of　Gypsy　Nan's　house　to　warn　you　away　in