CHAPTER XIX.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 379, 22 June 1889, Page 3

CHAPTER XIX.

OVER THE ROOFS. A jterce cry of joy went up from his pursuers when they saw Wat fall. But they were not to make a prey of him so easily. He was only momentarily dazed, and he had hardly touched the earth than he was on his feet again, and speeding toward the other end of the court. Like wolves in full 'kiry, "they pursued sJiim. • •, - "-"' s

There were several doors he could distinguish, and, as they were all alike unknown to him, he chose one haphazard, and darted directly toward it. He easily distanced his enemies, and had ample time to reach the door and try it before they could come up, with him. To his joy it opened, and to his further satisfaction it had a key on the other side. He was still in the dark as to his whereabouts, except that it was quite certain, from what he knew of the neighbourhood, that the house could not be over reputable. The men after him wore apparently equally aware of chat fact, for they made no hesitation about trying to force the door. Bub now Wat knew that he had the advantage. He was well posted on the general construction of the old Paris houses, as this one certainly was, and he ran at the top of his speed to the very garret. The house was ominously silent, notwithstanding the noise made by the infuriated Russians at the door. The probabilibieswere, as Wat knew, that it was the noise in the court that had stilled the house, thus proving that the tenants were of the very worst class, since if they had not wished to avoid observation they would have made some effort to discover the reason for the uproai*. Before Wat had reached the garret he heard the door give way. The Russians naturally knew much less of Paris ways than Wat, and therefore were undecided which way to go in pursuit of him. Wat realised this, but also realised that they could not afford to give up the search until they had penetrated every room in the house. He went unhesitatingly to the room in the front of the house, and, notwithstanding ib was ns silent as the grave, knocked, and then whispered in the argot or slang of the Parisian thief : 'Comrade, open ; the beaks are after me.' 1 • Why should I interfere ?' • There's money in it, and 1 11 get out of your way at once.' * How much money V ' Fifty francs down. ' He could hear the whispering of voices and then the shuffling of feet, and the door was slowly opened. Wat sprang in and locked the door after I him without concerning himself as to the character of the man he had to deal with. There was a faint light in the room, and I when he was inside he saw that he had a typical ruffian to deal with. The man's companion was a woman who was sitting up in a wretched bed, with her clothes all on, having retired in a great hurry, probably in order to impress anybody who might come that she had been sleeping innocently all the time the trouble was going on. " ' You're in a hurry, ain't you ?' growled the man. 'A fellow generally is when anybody's after him,' answered Wat, coolly. 1 Who's after you ?' ' That's none of your business, comrade. All you've gob to do is to take these fifty francs, and keep your mouth shut.' ' You ain'b gob no cheek, have you V 4 There you "make v, mistake,' said Wat, cheerfully. ' J've got enough to carry me through. ' 'Yes, I guess you have, an' tnore'n enough, too, 1 retorted the man, in a bullying tone. 'An' what's more, you ain'b a going' to get off for no fifty francs.' ' Oh/ said Wat, in a mocking tone, knowing just howto deal with his customer. * And so I am not to get off so cheap, eh?' 'No, you ain't.' * So? Well, suppose we have a little more light here, so you can take a good look ab the fellow you are going to make do. some-^ fclring. There ' — he lighted a lamp — ' now we can see whom we are talking to.' f'Oh, I can see you well enough, Monsieur Cheeky.' <' ' And* am Ito pay more- than fifty franc 3 — eh?<eh? eh? Ji At each query he thrust his blood-smeared face closer to the ruffian's, who, not knowing quite how to take such advances backed uncomfortably away. 'Take the fifty francs, Pierre,' said the woman, who was frightened by -Wat's appearance, and more still by his easy assurance. 'Oh,' said Wab, mockingly, * Pierre wants more, he does — eh ? eh V 1 Go away from me, or I'll knock you stiff, ' growled Pierre, at last. ' Ah, thatfsounds like business then. He | will kick me stiff. Oh, yes — he will eat me up, too !' * Will you . get out ?' demanded Pierre, retreating before a very menacing advance on the part of Wab. . • Will you knock me stiff,, or will you be satisfied with fifty francs ? You have only to make your choice.' ' Curse you ! Give me the money, and take your ugly carcass out of here. You make me sick. ' • I make you sick, eh ? Well, listen to me, you who would eat full-grown men. I am going to bake my carcass out of here, for my friends that I don't like are coming this way ; but I want to warn you that if you say one word about me I will Btick I this little knife, that has already tasted , blood to-night, in your weazand. Do you hear ? Now take your fifty francs and shut your mouth.' Wat blew out the lamp, and opening the window sprang out upon .the sloping roof and crawled away into the darkness. Only one having a good knowledge of such houses, and a steady set of nerves as well, would have cared to follow Wat even in the day-time. He crawled along until he came to a house which, as he could make out, did nob open on the court. Having got thab far, he tried the window, and, finding ib open, made no bones of stepping lightly into ifc. It was occupied, as he could see, bub he passed through it so softly that no one was disturbed, and he got out safely by the door. To go down the stairs and out afc the street door was then bub a small matter.