the haunted bookshop(闹鬼的书店)-第42章
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dropped onto the narrow footway that runs beside the track。 This
required watchful walking； for the charged third rail was very near； but
hugging the outer side of the path he proceeded without trouble。 Every
fifteen feet or so a girder ran sideways from the track； resting upon an
upright from the street below。 The fourth of these overhung the back
corner of Weintraub's house； and he crawled cautiously along it。 People
were passing on the pavement underneath； and he greatly feared being
discovered。 But he reached the end of the beam without mishap。 From
here a drop of about twelve feet would bring him onto Weintraub's back
roof。 For a moment he reflected that； once down there； it would be
impossible to return the same way。 However； he decided to risk it。
Where he was； with his legs swinging astride the girder； he was in serious
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danger of attracting attention。
He would have given a great deal； just then； to have his overcoat with
him； for by lowering it first he could have jumped onto it and muffled the
noise of his fall。 He took off his coat and carefully dropped it on the
corner of the roof。 Then cannily waiting until a train passed overhead；
drowning all other sounds with its roar； he lowered himself as far as he
could hang by his hands； and let go。
For some minutes he lay prone on the tin roof； and during that time a
number of distressing ideas occurred to him。 If he really expected to get
into Weintraub's house； why had he not laid his plans more carefully？
Why （for instance） had he not made some attempt to find out how many
there were in the household？ Why had he not arranged with one of his
friends to call Weintraub to the telephone at a given moment； so that he
could be more sure of making an entry unnoticed？ And what did he expect
to see or do if he got inside the house？ He found no answer to any of these
questions。
It was unpleasantly cold； and he was glad to slip his coat on again。
The small revolver was still in his hip pocket。 Another thought occurred to
himthat he should have provided himself with tennis shoes。 However；
it was some comfort to know that rubber heels of a nationally advertised
brand were under him。 He crawled quietly up to the sill of one of the
windows。 It was closed； and the room inside was dark。 A blind was
pulled most of the way down； leaving a gap of about four inches。 Peeping
cautiously over the sill； he could see farther inside the house a brightly lit
door and a passageway。
〃One thing I've got to look out for；〃 he thought； 〃is children。 There are
bound to be somewho ever heard of a German without offspring？ If I
wake them； they'll bawl。 This room is very likely a nursery； as it's on the
southeastern side。 Also； the window is shut tight； which is probably the
German idea of bedroom ventilation。〃
His guess may not have been a bad one； for after his eyes became
accustomed to the dimness of the room he thought he could perceive two
cot beds。 He then crawled over to the other window。 Here the blind was
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pulled down flush with the bottom of the sash。 Trying the window very
cautiously； he found it locked。 Not knowing just what to do； he returned
to the first window； and lay there peering in。 The sill was just high enough
above the roof level to make it necessary to raise himself a little on his
hands to see inside； and the position was very trying。 Moreover； the tin
roof had a tendency to crumple noisily when he moved。 He lay for some
time； shivering in the chill； and wondering whether it would be safe to
light a pipe。
〃There's another thing I'd better look out for；〃 he thought； 〃and that's a
dog。 Who ever heard of a German without a dachshund？〃
He had watched the lighted doorway for a long while without seeing
anything； and was beginning to think he was losing time to no profit when
a stout and not ill…natured looking woman appeared in the hallway。 She
came into the room he was studying； and closed the door。 She switched on
the light； and to his horror began to disrobe。 This was not what he had
counted on at all； and he retreated rapidly。 It was plain that nothing was to
be gained where he was。 He sat timidly at one edge of the roof and
wondered what to do next。
As he sat there； the back door opened almost directly below him； and
he heard the clang of a garbage can set out by the stoop。 The door stood
open for perhaps half a minute； and he heard a male voice Weintraub's；
he thoughtspeaking in German。 For the first time in his life he yearned
for the society of his German instructor at college； and also wonderedin
the rapid irrelevance of thought what that worthy man was now doing to
earn a living。 In a rather long and poorly lubricated sentence； heavily
verbed at the end； he distinguished one phrase that seemed important。
〃Nach Philadelphia gehen〃〃Go to Philadelphia。〃
Did that refer to Mifflin？ he wondered。
The door closed again。 Leaning over the rain…gutter； he saw the light
go out in the kitchen。 He tried to look through the upper portion of the
window just below him； but leaning out too far； the tin spout gave beneath
his hands。 Without knowing just how he did it； he slithered down the
side of the wall； and found his feet on a window…sill。 His hands still clung
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to the tin gutter above。 He made haste to climb down from his position；
and found himself outside the back door。 He had managed the descent
rather more quietly than if it had been carefully planned。 But he was
badly startled； and retreated to the bottom of the yard to see if he had
aroused notice。
A wait of several minutes brought no alarm； and he plucked up
courage。 On the inner side of the houseaway from Wordsworth Avenue
a narrow paved passage led to an outside cellar…way with old…fashioned
slanting doors。 He reconnoitred this warily。 A bright light was shining
from a window in this alley。 He crept below it on hands and knees fearing
to look in until he had investigated a little。 He found that one flap of the
cellar door was open； and poked his nose into the aperture。 All was dark
below； but a strong； damp stench of paints and chemicals arose。 He sniffed
gingerly。 〃I suppose he stores drugs down there；〃 he thought。
Very carefully he crawled back； on hands and knees； toward the
lighted window。 Lifting his head a few inches at a time； finally he got his
eyes above the level of the sill。 To his disappointment he found the lower
half of the window frosted。 As he knelt there； a pipe set in the wall
