Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/375

 eyes; his head lay slowly back, as the candle tilted and shot its grease on the floor. The door swung wider as his shoulder struck it, and he screamed, like a rabbit that sees a stoat. Then, with a wrench, he turned, letting drop the candle, and ran shrieking to the window, flung it open, and yelled into the black street. "'Elp! 'Elp! P'lice! Murder! Murder! Murder! Murder!"

"Run, Josh—run, ye blasted fool!" roared Bill Rann, bounding across the landing, and snatching at his arm.

"Go on—go on! I'm comin'!" Josh answered without turning his head. And Bill took the bottom flight at a jump. The candle flared as it lay on the floor, and spread a greasy pool about it.

"Murder! Murder! Mu-r-r-r—"

Josh had the man by the shoulder, swung him back from the window, gripped his throat, and dragged him across the carpet as he might drag a cat, while