t, made in breathless tones by another man who had run in,
caused a commotion, and, coming so unexpectedly, entirely unnerved the
woman, who hysterically cried out:

"He is in there! Open that door! Save him! Save him!"

Dr. Medjora smothered an ejaculation of anger, as in response to the
information thus received, the police began hammering upon the door.
Old as it was, it was of heavy oak and quite thick. The lock, too, was
a good one and gave no signs of yielding.

"Where is the fire?" exclaimed the sergeant.

"In the front room," answered the other man.

"Get the men up here. Bring axes, or anything that can be found to
break in with." The man hurried off, in obedience to this order, and
the policeman said to the woman:

"Madam, you'd better get out of this. It is going to be hot work!"

"No! No! I'll stay here."

Barnes wondered what was to be the outcome of the situation, and was
surprised to hear the sound of bolts being pushed through rusty
bearings. Dr. Medjora was further fortifying the door against the
coming attack. Barnes would have assailed the other door, but from the
roar of the flames he knew that no safety lay in that direction.
Presently heavy blows were rained upon the door, showing that an axe
had been found. In a few moments the panel splintered, and through a
gap thus made could be seen the figure of the man wielding the axe. It
seemed as though he would soon batter down the barrier which separated
Barnes from safety, when at the next blow the handle of the axe broke
in twain. A moment more, and a deafening crash and a rush of smoke
into the passageway indicated that a part of the roof had fallen in.
The sergeant grasped the woman by the shoulders, and dragged her
shrieking, from the doomed house, which was now a mass of flames. The
little knot of policemen stood apart and watched the destruction,
waiting to see some sign of Dr. Medjora. But they saw nothing of the
Doctor, nor of Barnes, of whom, indeed, they did not know.

CHAPTER III.

A WIZARD'S TRICK.

All New York, that afternoon, was treated to a sensational account in
the afternoon "Extra" newspapers, of the supposed holocaust of the
suspected murderer of Mabel Sloane. Yet in truth not only was Dr.
Medjora safe and well, but he had never been in any serious danger.

As soon as the police had abandoned the effort to batter in the door,
Dr. Medjora turned and said to young Barnes:

"It would serve you right were I to l