"By this time Von Ekstein will
have discovered the loss of his pap
ers. That will be enough to te'.l him
who and what you are. The peon Alio
guided me to the house will tell him
the rest of the story. We have not a
moment to losw Doubtless he is on his
way here now."
Throwing off his ou'er clothing,
Rothwell hastly arrayed himself in
the castoff rags tn which he had en
tered the city. Peggy clothed in non
descript, loose skirt, mantilla and
Jacket, would pass as" sho was. There
was nothing characteristic in her cos
tume by which she might be identi
fied by agents of Von Ekstein.
Extinguishing the lamp, Rothwell
raised the shade, opened the window
and peered out. As he did so a pow
erful touring car dasned around the
corner, drew to a halt at the front
door of the hotel and three men.
leaping from the car, rushed wildly
into the hotel.
They were trapped.
Fumbling In the dark Rothwell
seized the coll of rope which com
prised the only fire escape which the
room boasted. Knotting it's end about
the grl'a waist as she lowered her
self over the sill, Rothwell braced
his knee against the wall paying out
the line slowly as Peggy swung
through the air to the ground four
stories below. Almost before her feet
had touched the street he had join
ed her on the sidewalk. As he releas
ed her from the noose the crash of
breaking door told them that their
pursuers ware In the room above.
There was not a second to lose.
