time also came
for thought, and he was able to consider how it happened that four
officers were concealed in the house. There was but one possible
explanation.

"It was that cursed boy!" he muttered, grinding his teeth in a fierce
rage. "He betrayed us. He upset the likeliest plan I've joined in for
years. He shall suffer for it, curse it! Before I go to sleep this
night I'll give him a lesson. He won't need but one."

His soul thirsting for revenge, he hurried back to the miserable room
in which Julius was confined. He had no doubt of finding him, for he
was satisfied the boy could not get out.

Meanwhile Jack Morgan was compelled, by superior force, to surrender
at discretion. The blood was trickling from the wound in his shoulder,
and on the whole, he looked the burglar to perfection. While they were
slipping on the handcuffs the officer who had pursued Marlowe returned
and reported that he had escaped.

"Bully for him!" said Jack. "He's smart, Marlowe is!"

"So his name is Marlowe, is it?"

"You knew it before," said Jack, in a surly tone. "Who told you about
our coming here to-night?"

"Never mind!" said the officer. "It was our business to find out, and
we found out."

"I know well enough who blabbed," growled Jack. "Curse him! I'd like
to strangle him."

"I don't know whom you suspect, my man," said the officer; "but I
think it'll be some time before you'll have a chance to carry out your
benevolent purpose."

"Perhaps it will," returned Jack; "but Marlowe ain't took yet. He'll
attend to the business for both of us;" and there wis a look of
malignant joy on his face as he thought of the sure retribution that
would overtake Julius.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE VALUE OF A CLOTHES-LINE.

When Julius found himself alone and understood that his companions had
actually started on their illegal expedition, he felt that there was
pressing need of action. He must escape by some means. While the
prospect was that they would be captured, and so prevented from
returning, on the other hand, one or both might escape, and in that
case he knew enough of their savage and brutal character to realize
that he would be in the greatest danger. He rose from his bed, and
began to devise ways and means of escape.

The first and most obvious outlet, of course, was the door. But this
was locked, and the key was in Marlowe's possession. Then there was
the solitary window. It was on the third floor, and looked out into a
cou