The Mission of Poubalov — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

70 IN THE HANDS OF THE ENEMY. doubt whether the steps leading to it would be in place. He cared little whether the skylight on the adjoinin roof would be found open and the steps in place, or ne he would get in in any event. Both were in just the cor dition most favorable to his project, and a moment late: Litizki had struck a match and was peering about in empty room on the top floor of Poubalov's lodging house, The little tailor exulted more and more as he crept dow the stairs after examining every room. Not a sleepe had been awakened, not a door had been found locked He would search the whole house before trying the doo to the hallroom adjoining Poubalov’s. That would b found locked. He had no doubt he should pick the lock for he had skeleton keys in his pocket, and if not—a vig orous shove and he would burst it open. What cared h for details at the very end of his search? | He had come to the floor above the spy’s room. Here as before, every door was unlocked, most of the room empty. He had just extinguished a match preparatory descending further, when from somewhere out of thi darkness heavy hands were laid upon him and he wa borne to the floor. Another instant and a hand was presse upon his mouth and there was a dazzling flash of ligh from a dark lantern held over him. Litizki saw the cruel eyes of Alexander Poubalovy gla ing down, and then the slide of the lantern was close again. Gomicbooks.con