"
Lemuel followed him upstairs, to see if he could find Williams. The
steam had ascended and filled the upper halls; little cascades of
water poured down the stairs, falling from step to step; the long
strips of carpeting in the corridors swam in the deluge which the
hose had poured into the building, and a rain of heavy drops burst
through the ceilings.
Most of the room-doors stood open, as the people had flung them wide
in their rush for life. At the door of Berry's room a figure
appeared which he promptly seized by the throat.
"Don't be in a hurry!" he said, as he pushed it into the room. "I
want to see you."
It was Williams.
"I want to see what you've got in your pockets. Hold on to him,
Barker."
Lemuel had no choice. He held Williams by the arms while Berry went
through him, as he called the search. He found upon him whatever
small articles of value there had been in his room.
The thief submitted without a struggle, without a murmur.
Berry turned scornfully to Lemuel. "This a friend of yours, Mr.
Barker?"
Still the thief did not speak, but he looked at Lemuel.
"Yes," he dryly gasped.
"Well!" said Berry, staring fiercely at him for a moment. "If it
wasn't for something old Evans said to me about you, a little while
ago, I'd hand you both over to the police."
Williams seemed to bear the threat with philosophic resignation, but
Lemuel shrank back in terror.
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