"
"Well, I am going to avail myself of this trick staircase, but keep very
shady. Some of the lads are outside; they must not close in if I am gone
some time. Give them a signal when they rush in, or they might do
something rash. The rest of the fellows have not the confidence in you
that I have, and they might suspect something. Be on the lookout, and if
necessary show one of them where I am, for my orders have been very
strict."
There was no misunderstanding on the part of Credo. He smiled and said:
"I take what you mean. No, no, I've no such notion. It's business with
us; that's right. I am not going to free myself this way, and here it is
on the square. I'd rather make a stake this way, for if a man dies, he
dies sudden--he don't linger."
"We understand then?"
"Yes."
"All right, I am going to take in the meeting upstairs."
Oscar drew his mask lantern, slipped into the opening after a thorough
examination of the whole contrivance and then he said:
"Close the door, old man, close the door."
The door did close and immediately our hero opened it. He looked out and
said:
"Play very close to-night, Credo: don't let your customers, if you have
any, fall to us."
"The people are all at a ball. I'll have no visitors to-night except it
may be a straggler.
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