"Now you get out!" cried Russ, and the man left rather unceremoniously, slipping down two or three steps before he could recover his balance and grasp the railing. "Oh, shut the door, quickly, Alice!" gasped Ruth. CHAPTER II RUSS DALWOOD APOLOGIZES The portal was closed with a bang--so closed because Alice in a mad rush threw herself against it and turned the key in the lock. Then she gained a place by her sister's side, and slipped an arm about her waist. "He--he won't come in," Alice whispered. "I saw him going down the stairs." "Who--who was it?" faltered Ruth. She was very pale. "I don't know," Alice made answer. "I don't believe he meant to come in here. It was--was just an accident. But the door is locked now. Maybe it was some collector--like those horrid men who have been to see us lately. The Dalwoods may be short of money, too." "I don't think so, Alice. Russ makes good wages at the moving picture place. Oh, are you sure the door is locked?" "Positive. Don't worry." "Let's slip down the back stairs to Mrs. Reilley's flat. She has a telephone, and we can call the police," suggested the taller girl, in a hoarse whisper, her eyes never leaving the hall door that had been so unceremoniously thrust open. "Silly!" returned Alice. "There's no danger now. That man has gone. I tell you I saw him hurrying down the stairs. Russ sent him about his business, all right--whatever his business was." "Oh, it's terrible to live this way!" wailed Ruth. "With--with common fighting going on in the halls! If poor mother were alive now--" "She wouldn't be a bit afraid, if what you tell me of her is true!" insisted Alice, stoutly. "And I'm not a bit afraid, either. Why, Russ is just across the hall, and it was only the other day you were saying how strong and manly he was. Have you forgotten?" "No," answered Ruth, in a low voice, and again the blush suffused her cheeks. "Then don't be a silly. I'm not going down and ask Mrs. Reilley to 'phone for the police. That would cause excitement indeed. I don't believe anyone else heard the commotion, and that was only because our door flew open by accident." "Oh, well, maybe it will be all right," assented the taller girl who, in this emergency, seemed to lean on her younger sister. Perhaps it was because Alice was so merry-hearted--even unthinking at times; despising danger because she did not know exactly what it was--or what it meant. Yet even now Ruth felt that she must play the part of mother to her younger sister. "Are you sure that door is locked?" she asked again. "Positive! See, I'll slip on the chain, and then it would tax even a policeman to get in. But, really, Ruth, I wouldn't go to Mrs. Reilley's if I were you. She'll tell everyone, and there doesn't seem to be any need. It's all over, and those below, or above us, seem to have heard nothing of it." "Oh, I wish daddy would come home!"