e that any creature but a man would be able
to mount the lattice supporting the honeysuckle vines and so creep out
upon the porch roof. Once making secure his footing, the enemy in the
dark approached directly the bathroom window at which Tom crouched.

Chapter IX

Where was Koku?

Tom reached up swiftly and pushed over the lever that locked the two
window sashes. In doing this he set his own patent burglar alarm. If
that lever was turned back again, or broken, the buzzers would be set
ringing all over the house, and in Koku's room over the garage.

He did not believe that the marauder on the roof of the porch could
have seen the flash of his shirt-sleeved arm. But he took no chance of
being observed from outside by rising to his feet.

On his hands and knees he crept away from the window, and out of the
bathroom. Once there, he stood up, grabbed the portfolio, and without
coat or vest and as he was, dashed out of the bedroom. He had been
positive that nobody but himself was astir in the big house, and he was
right.

He did not punch the light button when he entered the library. He knew
where to put his hand upon an electric torch in the table drawer, and
he gained possession of this.

Then he went to the safe and twirled the knob and watched the indicator
find the four numbers which were the "open sesame" to the burglar and
fire-proof door.

He flung the portfolio into the inner compartment, closed both doors,
and twirled the combination-knob. Then Tom tiptoed to the foot of the
front stairs to listen. He could hear no sound from above.

He did not want his father to be startled, if the enemy did break in;
and he knew that old Rad, awakened out of a sound sleep, would be worse
than useless at such a time.

After all, the giant, Koku, was his main dependence under these
circumstances. Tom crept to the outer door, opened it carefully, and
slipped out, letting the spring lock click behind him. For the first
time he realized that he was in his shirt and trousers and wore only
felt slippers on his feet.

But he was locked out now. He had no key. He must run the risk of the
fine rain and the chill of the night air.

He stepped off the end of the porch and ran around the house. It was
to the roof of the rear porch that the marauder had climbed. But peer
as he might from down in the yard, Tom could see no moving figure up
there near the bathroom window. It was pitch dark against the wall of
the house.