some rest"

"Me for my little trundle bed." And Saunders, in high spirits, waved
his hand as he went out the door.

Left alone, Mark proceeded to dress, but awaited Father Murray's return
before going down to breakfast. The time seemed long after breakfast,
but at length the priest prepared to leave the hotel.

Mark spoke nonchalantly. "Oh, Father, I'm going out in the country
with some friends, and may not get back till quite late to-night."

"All right, Mark. I hope you have a pleasant trip."

It was so easy that Mark felt a trifle worried. His device was crude,
and the priest had never before been so easily deceived.

It was midnight when a big automobile containing Saunders, his
ex-fireman friend and Mark, drew up cautiously on a side street near
the Ministry. The men at first walked quietly past the house. They
saw a light in the apartment occupied by Ruth, but there seemed to be
no other light within. They then walked around the block, passing a
policeman at the corner, and entered the alley behind the Ministry on
the other side, out of the bluecoat's sight. There was no one in the
back yard, and Saunders easily effected an entrance into the garage,
which was not far from the house. Taking from his pocket an ordinary
hot-water bag, he knocked the lock off the gasoline tank and proceeded
to fill the bag with gasoline. Then he turned to Mark.

"That's all back here for you. Leave the rear work to me. Go around,
you two, and get the ladder. In fifteen minutes I'll have a fire at
the back door. You'll probably see the light. As soon as you hear
cries from the house, listen well and you'll know whether or not the
guard has rushed back. The big door-window on the balcony is always
left open so that the guard can command the window of Miss Atheson's
room, and you can easily hear him open and close the inside door. If
he doesn't leave, the game's up. As soon as you are sure he's gone,
throw up the ladder. If you get Miss Atheson, don't wait for me. Rush
her to the automobile and back to the hotel. I'll take care of myself.
Now go on, and wait for the big noise."

The three men moved toward the door, but fell back when they saw a dark
figure plainly outlined against the dim light behind him. Saunders
said something under his breath. The ex-fireman turned pale, for he
thought it was a policeman.

"The country is beautiful in the autumn, isn't it, Mark?"

Mark was as embarrassed as any sm