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Page 42
A rainwater-pipe was within reach of his hand on the right of the
window and, leaning out still farther, young Kerry saw that it
passed beside two other, larger, windows on the floor beneath
him. Neither of these showed any light.
Dizzy heights have no terror for healthy youth. The brackets
supporting the rain-pipe were a sufficient staircase for the
agile Dan, a more slippery prisoner than the famous Baron Trenck;
and, discarding his muffler and his Burberry, he climbed out upon
the sill and felt with his thick-soled boots for the first of
these footholds. Clutching the ledge, he lowered himself and
felt for the next.
Then came the moment when he must trust all his weight to the
pipe. Clenching his teeth, he risked it, felt for and found the
third angle, and then, still clutching the pipe, stood for a
moment upon the ledge of the window immediately beneath him. He
was curious respecting the lighted window of the neighbouring
house; and, twisting about, he bent, peering across--and saw a
sight which arrested his progress.
The room within was furnished in a way which made him gasp with
astonishment. It was like an Eastern picture, he thought. Her
golden hair dishevelled and her hands alternately clenching and
unclenching, a woman whom he considered to be most wonderfully
dressed was pacing wildly up and down, a look of such horror upon
her pale face that Dan's heart seemed to stop beating for a
moment!
Here was real trouble of a sort which appealed to all the
chivalry in the boy's nature. He considered the window, which
was glazed with amber-coloured glass, observed that it was
sufficiently open to enable him to slip the fastening and open it
entirely could he but reach it. And--yes!--there was a rain-
pipe!
Climbing down to the yard, he looked quickly about him, ran
across, and climbed up to the lighted window. A moment later he
had pushed it widely open.
He was greeted by a stifled cry, but, cautiously transferring his
weight from the friendly pipe to the ledge, he got astride of it,
one foot in the room. Then, by exercise of a monkey-like
agility, he wriggled his head and shoulders within.
"It's all right," he said softly and reassuringly; "I'm Dan
Kerry, son of Chief Inspector Kerry. Can I be of any
assistance?"
Her hands clasped convulsively together, the woman stood looking
up at him.
"Oh, thank God!" said the captive. "But what are you going to
do? Can you get me out?"
"Don't worry," replied Dan confidently. "Father and I can manage
it all right!"
He performed a singular contortion, as a result of which his
other leg and foot appeared inside the window. Then, twisting
around, he lowered himself and dropped triumphantly upon a
cushioned divan. At that moment he would have faced a cage full
of man-eating tigers. The spirit of adventure had him in its
grip. He stood up, breathing rapidly, his crop of red hair more
dishevelled than usual.
Then, before he could stir or utter any protest, the golden-
haired princess whom he had come to rescue stooped, threw her
arms around his neck, and kissed him.
"You darling, brave boy!" she said. "I think you have saved me
from madness."
Young Kerry, more flushed than ever, extricated himself, and:
"You're not out of the mess yet," he protested. "The only
difference is that I'm in it with you!"
"But where is your father?"
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