Again her hand found his in the darkness of the landing. She took him
toward the rear to a ladder which ended at a dormer half-door leading
to the roof. Clay fumbled with his fingers, found a hook, unfastened
it, and pushed open the trap. He looked up into a starlit night and a
moment later stepped out upon the roof. Presently the slim figure of
the girl stood beside him.
They moved across to a low wall, climbed it and came to the dormer door
of the next house. Clay knelt and lifted it an inch or two very
slowly. He lowered it again and rose.
"I'm a heap obliged to you, Miss," he said in a low voice. "You're a
game little gentleman."
She nodded. "My name is Annie Millikan."
"Mine is Clay Lindsay. I want to come and thank you proper some day."
"I take tickets at Heath's Palace of Wonders two blocks down," she
whispered.
"You'll sure sell me a ticket one of these days," Clay promised.
"Look out for yourself. Don't let 'em get you. Give 'em a chance, and
that gang would croak you sure."
"I'll be around to buy that ticket. Good-night, Miss Annie. Don't you
worry about me."
"You will be careful, won't you?"
"I never threw down on myself yet."
The girl's flippancy broke out again. "Say, lemme know when the
weddin' is and I'll send you a salad bowl," she flashed at him saucily
as he turned to go.
Clay was already busy with the door.
CHAPTER XIV
STARRING AS A SECOND-STORY MAN
Darkness engulfed Clay as he closed the trapdoor overhead.
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