RANSVESTIA

To accomplish that he would have to take either the back stairway or the escalator. The elevator would make too much noise and light. On the other hand the escalator was located in the middle of the floor with a wide open illuminated area around the mouth. The back stairway was altogether too close to the burglars and there was a squeaky door to open to get to it. He would have to negotiate those two flights as best he could on the frozen steps of the escalator. There appeared to be no other safe way to get off the sixth floor and there was no time to lose now. One of the figures had already disappeared from the group. He guessed that the missing burglar had returned to the stockroom for something. In any event the trio gave every indication of preparing to move out to wherever it was they were going in the store.

Harry moved out to the aisle again and crouched down. Ignoring Harriet's skirts and slip Harry crawled on hands and knees toward the top of the escalator. After a few feet of crawling along the carpeted aisle it became apparent that Harriet's high heels were going to be something of a hindrance. He quickly took them off and hid them under the up- holstery skirts of a nearby sofa. Continuing on, flashlight in hand, he listened for the sound of the muffled voices, wary lest the volume increase. Reaching the mouth of the escalator he wasted no time in crawling down- ward over the first few steps, the serrated steel cutting painfully into his knee caps. When he judged it was safe he stood up and covered the re- maining steps to the fifth floor, two at a time, the pleated skirt flying from side to side as he went. When he arrived on the fourth floor he was confident that he had not been seen and there was a momentary feeling of relief.

He made his way quickly to the fur department and found the purse waiting where Harriet had left it on a glass top table. His heart was pounding and he was panting from the rapid descent. He opened the purse and emptied its contents onto the table. The pistol and ammuni- tion were there. The keys and radio receiver were there and also some extra flashlight batteries. He fumbled hurriedly with the pistol and ammunition and finally succeeded in loading a ten round clip. He chambered the first round. The cold clicking sound chilled him. If he had to he knew how to use that pistol.

The radio receiver caught his eye. He picked up the small grey instru- ment and snapped it on. The beeps he expected to hear did not material- ize. He held the receiver to his ear. A faint hum indicated it was work- ing but there was no reception not even static. Something must be wrong with the alarm system. Perhaps the burglars had known how to

―

20