The next instant the two boys were besieging Cassidy with questions. The lodging-house proprietor looked bewildered a moment, and then, gathering the import of what they wanted, he exclaimed: "Oh, you're chums of his, eh? Belong to the same gang I s'pose? Well, you can't come any tricks on me! If that lad is your chum he stays here until he's worked out what he owes me!" "What does he owe you?" demanded Bart. "Ned Wilding doesn't need to owe anyone anything." "He owes me the money he stole!" Cassidy cried, "and I'm going to get it! Now, you fellows skip out of here or I'll call the police!" "Can't we see Ned?" demanded William. "No, you can't! He's got to stay here a week. Think I'm going to let you in and have you help him git away the way he did after he took my money?" "He never took your money!" cried Bart. "Clear out!" exclaimed Cassidy. "Bart, you go get a policeman!" called William suddenly. "We'll see about this thing. Telephone for Mr. Wilding and the boys!" "What will you do?" asked Bart. "I'll stay on guard!" William replied, looking Cassidy straight in the face. "He's not going to get Ned away from me again!" CHAPTER XXIX NED IS FOUND--CONCLUSION Bart hurried down the stairs. Cassidy looked after him, a little in doubt what to make of the proceeding. Then he glanced at William. "Here, you get out of this!" he called roughly. "All right," agreed William cheerfully. "It's your place, I admit, but you'll sing a different tune pretty soon. I'll get out of the hallway but the street is free, and I'll be on guard there until this thing is settled." "You're too fresh!" spluttered Cassidy, as he turned and went back upstairs. "That's all right! You'll get what's coming to you pretty soon," retorted William confidently, as he went down to the street to await the return of Bart with reinforcements. Bart soon got into communication with Mr. Wilding, and with the two chums, at their hotel. They said they would hurry to the lodging house, and Mr. Wilding announced that he would bring a detective from headquarters, rather than have the boys ask a policeman to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, Mr. Wilding advised Bart to keep close watch on the lodging house. William and Bart now took up their positions where they could observe the entrance to the place. They did not know there was a rear stairway, but, as Cassidy had no idea of spiriting Ned away, desiring, in fact, to only keep him secure, there was no need of guarding the back. It seemed a long time before Mr. Wilding arrived with the detective. About the same time Frank and Fenn got to the place. "I have told the detective all about it, as far as we know the circumstances," Mr. Wilding said. "Are you sure Ned is in there, William?" "Almost positive," was the answer. "The man admitted as much. He says Ned stole money from him and has to work to pay it back."