Karlov, upon forcing his way past Kitty's barricade, stared at her
doubtfully. This was a clever girl; she had proved her cleverness
frequently. She might have some reason other than fear in keeping him
out. So he put a fresh candle in the sconce and began to prowl. He
pierced the attic windows with a ranging glance; no one was in the yard
or on the Street. The dust on the windows had not been disturbed.

To Kitty the suspense was intolerable. At any moment Cutty might tap a
query to her. How to warn him that all was not well? A scream would
do it; but in that event when Cutty arrived there would be no Kitty
Conover. Something that would sound unusual to Cutty and accidental to
Karlov. She hit upon it. She seized a plank from her barricade, raised
it to a perpendicular position, then flung it down violently. Would
Cutty hear and comprehend that she was warning him? As a matter of
fact, Cutty never heard the crash, for at that particular minute he was
standing up to get the kinks out of his knees.

Karlov whirled on his heels, ran to Kitty, and snatched her wrist. "Why
did you do that?"

Kitty remained mute. "Answer!"--with a cruel twist.

"You hurt!" she gasped. Anything to gain time. She tried to break away.

"Why did you do that?"