IN THE BEDROOM CHAMBER Flattening himself closely against the black logs of the wall Howland paused on the platform at the top of the stair.

His groping hand touched the jam of a door and he held his breath when his fingers incautiously rattled the steel of a latch.

In another moment he passed on, three paces---four--along the platform, at last sinking on his knees in the snow, close under the window, his eyes searched the lighted room an inch at a time.

He saw a section of wall at first, dimly illuminated; then a small table near the window covered with books and magazines, and beside it a reclining chair buried thick under a great white bear robe.

On the table, but beyond his vision, was the lamp.