uldn't open
the door which was locked, he pounded on the floor. My key wouldn't
fit, so he asked me to throw up a clothes-line, which I did, and the
poor crayther got out of the winder, and wint for the doctor. He'll be
back soon, I'm thinkin'."

"No, he won't," growled Marlowe. "He's a thief and a villain, and he's
run away."

"Did I iver hear the likes?" exclaimed Mrs. O'Connor. "Who'd have
thought it, shure?"

"I've a good mind to wring your neck, for helping him off," said
Marlowe, forgetting in his anger the politeness due to the fair sex.

"Would you, thin?" exclaimed Mrs. O'Connor, incensed. "Then my husband
would do the same to you, you brute! I am glad the boy's gone, so I
am, and I hope he'll never get into your clutches again, you monster!
Tim, wake up there, and defind yer wife from the thafe that's insulted
her!"

Before Tim O'Connor aroused from his sleep at his wife's call,
Marlowe, with a smothered execration, retreated to his own room, and
began to consider his position. He must fly. There was no doubt of
that. Remaining in his old haunts, he would, unquestionably, fall into
the hands of the police, now probably on his track. He must get away,
and that very night. Any delay would be dangerous. He must leave the
city and remain in hiding for the present.

While he was making hurried preparations steps were heard on the
stairs, and there was a loud knocking on the door.

"Who's there?" demanded Marlowe.

"Open, in the name of the law!" was the reply of the officers, who had
tracked him to his lair.

"Wait a minute," said Marlowe.

He rushed to the window and descended swiftly by the same rope which
had given Julius deliverance (it had escaped the attention of the
officers, on account of the darkness), and while the officers were
waiting for the door to be opened he eluded their vigilance and made
his escape.

CHAPTER XIX.

A CURIOSITY SHOP.

Marlowe realized that he had made the city too hot to hold him. The
police, with whom he had a more intimate acquaintance than he desired,
were already on his track, and it was doubtful if he could escape. The
affair in which he was implicated was a serious one, and if arrested
and tried he could hardly hope for less than ten years' imprisonment.
This is rather a long term of confinement to be taken out of a man's
life, and must be avoided if possible. But one way of escape seemed
feasible, and this Marlowe tried, as a desperate experiment.

H