"Go on!" she called through the tube.
The chauffeur obeyed, but he stopped again directly behind Karlov's
taxicab. He slid off his seat and opened the door. His face was grim.
Tumpitum-tump! Tumpitum-tump! She did not hear the tocsin this time; she
felt it on her spine--the drums of fear. If they touched her!
"Come with me, miss. If you are sensible you will not be harmed. If you
cut up a racket I'll have to carry you."
"What does this mean?" faltered Kitty.
"That we have finally got you, miss. You can see for yourself that there
isn't any help in sight. Better take it sensibly. We don't intend to
hurt you. It's somebody else we want. There's a heavy score against you,
but we'll overlook it if you act sensibly. You were very clever last
night; but the game depends upon the last trick."
"I'll go sensibly," Kitty agreed. They must not touch her!
Karlov did not speak as he opened the door of the house for her. His
expression was Buddha-like.
"This way, miss," said the chauffeur, affably.
"You are an American?"
"Whenever it pays."
Presently Kitty found herself in the attic, alone. They hadn't touched
her; so much was gained. Poor little fool that she was! It was fairly
dark now, but overhead she could see the dim outlines of the scuttle
or trap. The attic was empty except for a few pieces of lumber and some
soap boxes. She determined to investigate the trap at once, before they
came again.
She placed two soap boxes on end and laid a plank across. After testing
its stability she mounted. She could reach the trap easily, with plenty
of leverage to spare. She was confident that she could draw herself
up to the roof. She sought for the hooks and liberated them, then she
placed her palms against the trap and heaved. Not even a creak answered
her. She pressed upward again and again. The trap was immovable.
Light. She turned, to behold Kariov in the doorway, a candlestick in his
hand. "The scuttle is covered with cement, Miss Conover. Nobody can get
in or out."
Kitty got down, her knees uncertain. If he touched her! Oh, the fool she
had been!
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked through dry lips.
"You are to me a bill of exchange, payable in something more precious
to me than gold. I am going to keep you here until you are ransomed. The
ransom is the man you have been shielding. If he isn't here by midnight
you vanish. Oh, we shan't harm you. Merely you will disappear until my
affairs in America are terminated. You are clever and resourceful for so
young a woman. You will understand that we are not going to turn aside.
You are not a woman to me; you are a valuable pawn. You are something to
bargain for."