"Don't say anything about it to the boys," cautioned Joe. "The thing would get out, and before we knew it the folks at home would have heard of it. And they wouldn't have an easy minute for all the rest of the trip." They made quick time to the hotel, and as most of their luggage had remained on the train, they had only to gather a few things together in a small hand bag and start out for the station. Their special train had been standing on a side track a few hundred yards east of the main platform. They were picking their way toward it across a network of tracks, when, just as they rounded the corner of a freight car, they came face to face with Hartley. They almost dropped their handbags at the unexpectedness of the meeting. But if they were startled, Bugs was frightened and turned on his heel to run. In an instant Joe had him by the collar in a grip of iron, while Jim stood on the alert to stop him should he break away. "Let me go!" cried Hartley in stifled tones, for Joe's grip was almost choking him. "Not until you tell me why you tried to murder me to-night," said Joe, grimly. "I don't know what you're talking about," snarled Bugs, trying to wrench himself loose from Joe's hold on his collar. "You know well enough," replied his captor. "Own up." "You might as well, Bugs," put in Jim. "We've got the goods on you." "You fellows are crazy," replied Bugs. "I've never laid eyes on you since I saw you in Chicago. And you can't prove that I did either." "You're the only enemy I have in the world," declared Joe. "And the man who threw that rock at me to-night was a practiced thrower. Besides, you're all in a sweat--that's from running away when we chased you." "Swell proof that is," sneered Hartley. "Tell that to a judge and see what good it will do you." The point was well taken, and Joe and Jim knew in their hearts that they had no legal proof, although they were morally certain Bugs was guilty. Besides, they had no time to have him arrested, for their train was scheduled to start in ten minutes. "Now listen, Bugs," said Joe, at the same time shaking him so that his teeth rattled. "I know perfectly well that you're lying, and I'm giving you warning for the last time. You've had it in for me from the time you doped my coffee and nearly put me out of the game altogether. Ever since that you've bothered me, and to-night you've tried to kill me. I tell you straight, I've had enough of it. If I didn't think that your brain was twisted, I'd thrash you now within an inch of your life. But I'm telling you now, and you let it sink in, that the next time you try to do me, I'm going to put you where the dogs won't bite you." He dug his knuckles into Bugs' neck and gave him a fling that sent him several yards away. The fellow kept his feet with an effort, and then with a muttered threat slunk away into the darkness. They watched him for a minute, and then picked up their handbags and started toward the train.