With a great effort John loosened the hand that clenched the money. Then the Indian drew out the bills. The thief tried to grab them back. As he did so John tried to get up, having accomplished the main part of his purpose, that of saving his own and his chums' money. But, as he did so, the thief gave a roll, to get on top. This brought him to the edge of a flight of stairs, and, a second later the two were rolling down. Bump! Bump! Bump! they went until they reached a landing. John's head struck the baseboard, and, for a moment he was stunned. There was a rush of feet in the corridor above. "Hold him! We're coming!" was the cry. John heard dimly. Then a blackness seemed to come over him. The lights faded away. He just remembered thrusting his hand containing the bills into his pocket, and then he fainted away. The thief, with nimble feet, was half way down the second flight of stairs by now, for, finding the hold of his captor loosened, he made the best of his opportunity. "Have you got him, John?" yelled Jack. "Hold him until I come!" shouted Nat. They had both run out into the hallway in time to see John pursuing the thief. They reached the top of the stairs just as the fellow fled. The thief, as he ran down the stairs, cast up one look. Jack Ranger saw him, the light from a gas jet in the lower corridor shining full on the man's face. "Professor Punjab! Hemp Smith!" exclaimed Jack, as he recognized the fakir who called himself Marinello Booghoobally. "Did he get away?" asked Nat, coming up just then. "Yes, and I guess he's killed John," said Jack, his heart failing him. CHAPTER XX A STRANGE SEANCE By this time the corridors, above and below were filled with excited men, all scantily attired. Nat and Jack ran to where John was lying on the landing, and lifted his head. "I'm all right," exclaimed the Indian, as he opened his eyes. "Got a bad one on the head, that's all. I can walk." He proceeded to demonstrate this by standing up and mounting the stairs. "Did he get our money?" asked Nat. In answer John showed the roll he still held tightly clenched in his hand. "Here are some pocketbooks," called a man from the upper hall. "Then we're all right, after all," spoke Jack. "Money and pocketbooks safe. How did it happen? How did you land on him, John?" "He was in our room," replied the Indian. "I woke up and saw him. Then I chased out, that's all." The man who had picked up the pocketbooks handed them to Jack. The boy saw his own on top, and opened it, as he had a number of souvenirs and keepsakes in it. As he glanced in he uttered a cry of surprise. "The card Mr. Liggins gave me to present to Mr. Tevis is gone!" he exclaimed. "Here! We must catch Professor Punjab! He has my card. Come on!" Jack was about to rush down the stairs but was stopped by several of the men. "You can't catch him," they said. "Besides, the police may have him by now. Go back and get dressed."