RANSVESTIA

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deactivate it if that was possible. Then it occurred to him that lightning might have shorted the system. Whatever the cause it was apparent that the system was not working properly and the police would not be coming. He could still call them on the direct line in the main- tenance and security office. Just then he looked up and saw the image of Harriet standing beside the glass table reflected in a mirror. Going to the maintenance and security office to call the police meant exposing Harriet. Furtively his mind sought another solution. It would be relatively easy he knew to beat the three intruders to the basement where he could call the police. But if they have deactivated the alarms they probably also have cut the phone lines he reasoned. This last assumption was a convenient excuse. Burglars or no burglars he resolved finally Harriet's secret would be protected at any cost. It was a brave resolution while the burglars remained two floors away.

Suddenly he knew what he would do. The beauty salon was close by. He would go there and change from Harriet's feminine attire as fast as possible. If the burglars realized there was a nightwatchman in the building they probably would not think of looking for him in the beauty salon. When he was more suitably dressed to pursue burglars he would decide what to do about them. Perhaps then he would see about calling the police.

Intent on this plan he gathered up the flashlight, the radio receiver, and the pistol, put them back into the purse and went to the front of the fur department. He would lock the double set of doors across the entrance before leaving. There wasn't time to turn on the electrically charged steel gate inside the doors. If he was lucky the burglars would not be interested in the fur department anyway. It occurred to him that their target was the safe in the accounting office where the proceeds from the day's business and lots of small change were kept. The money collected on Saturday would not be banked until Monday and the safe would be an attractive objective for the thieves.

As Harry carried out this plan and locked the double doors he was startled by a sudden rushing, clunking noise somewhere behind him. The burglars had walked the length of the store and had taken one of the elevators from six. Light flooded out from the opening doors of the elevator and silhouetted the three men. Then the doors rushed and clunked shut. They were on the fourth floor standing in front of the main bank of elevators scarcely fifty feet from Harry. Fortunately the doors to the fur department which he had just locked were well in the shadows. Nevertheless it was a moment for panic. Unless he moved

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