And for it to appear real to them, it must appear real to old Luddy himself--do not take any chances there." Jimmie Dale's eyes narrowed.

Yes, it was simple enough now with that pack of hell's wolves guarded for the moment by a locked door, forced to give him warning by breaking the door before they could get out.

It was simple enough now to enter old Luddy's room, steal the stones at the revolver point, then make enough disturbance--when he was ready--to set the gang in motion, and, as they rushed in open him, to make his escape with the stones to the roof through Luddy's room.

That was simple enough--there was an opening to the roof in Luddy's room, she had said, and there was a ladder kept there in place.

On hot nights, it seemed, the old man used to go up there and sleep on the roof--not now, of course.