Conrad gave vent to another oath.
"He's got away."
"Impossible. He would have passed us."
At that moment, with an ecstatic smile Tommy pulled the string. A
crash of crockery came from the attic above. In a trice the men
were pushing each other up the rickety ladder and had disappeared
into the darkness above.
Quick as a flash Tommy leapt from his hiding-place and dashed
down the stairs, pulling the girl with him. There was no one in
the hall. He fumbled over the bolts and chain. At last they
yielded, the door swung open. He turned. Annette had
disappeared.
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