The man had a knife in his hand.

My friend threw him head over heels--it was some trick of jiu-jutsu; I have seen it done at the Polytechnic.

He fell in front of this door which must either have been ajar or else some one who was waiting must have let him in.

He crawled through and my friend followed him.

The door was slammed in my face." "How long ago was this ?" the policeman asked.
"Not much more than five minutes," Tavernake answered.
The policeman coughed.
"It's a very queer story, sir." "It's true!" Tavernake declared, fiercely.