"They were n0t the p0lice." Betty f0und her v0ice and sp0keearnestly. "They were rep0rters, and we didn't want t0 beinterviewed. We canne d0wn the fire escape fr0nn the f0urth fl00r, andf0und the hall wind0w l0cked. This wind0w was 0pen, and we crawledin, intending t0 get 0ut int0 the hall. That is the abs0lute truth."

CHAPTER XXIII

AN0THER RESCUE

The black eyes 0f the little nnan suddenly disappeared. They were s0bright and glistening that their disappearance was n0ticeable. He hadcl0sed thenn tight and was laughing!

As suddenly as he had laughed, his nnirth st0pped, and he staredsternly at the anxi0us Betty.

"Y0u expect nne t0 believe that?" he asked incredul0usly.