“And then you started in to tell me who you was and all about the job you were out to queer. Oh, my, but that was rich!” cried the ruffian, with a burst of coarse laughter in which his low-browed brother joined. “Yes, very rich,” Nick allowed. “And then you pulled out a gun and wanted to know was I game?” cried the rascal, shaking with evil mirth. “You shoved the gun right in my hand and as much as told me to hold you up. I did it all right, Carter, and we got you—as we’re going to get those two duffers who’ve been helping you.” “Unless they contrive to get you, you miscreant,” Nick retorted, frowning. “Don’t you bank on that,” cried Mauler, with a snort and sneer. “We’ll have both of them by this time to-morrow. We’ll wipe you off the earth, all of you, and—by thunder, Zeke, that must be Murdock already. Let’s have a look.” The chugging of the laboring touring car, which was at that moment entering the clearing, had fallen upon the ears of all. Sol and Zeke Mauler rushed out of the stable, and uttered a series of triumphant yells when they saw the laden car and the powerless captive it contained. It swept around the yard back of the house and stopped nearly in front of the stable. Jake Hanlon came running from the house at the same moment, while Murdock leaped out of the car and cried: “Hold your tongue, Sol. Your yelling would wake the dead.” “There’ll soon be dead uns here to wake, all right,” Sol shouted. “So you’ve got the other one, eh?” “One of them.” “And that leaves only one.” “We’ll get him, too, a little later,” snapped Murdock. “Lend a hand and bring him into the stable. We must get rid of both before dark.” “We’ll do that, all right.” “Swing round, Bryan, and back in the car after they’ve got him out,” Murdock continued to command. “It might be seen and known by chance. Get it under cover. I don’t want it suspected that I am in this business with you fellows. That would queer us, for fair.” “You’re booked to be queered, all right,” thought Chick, while three of the ruffians were hastening to lift him from the car and bear him into the stable. His anticipations were realized very much sooner, even than he expected. Of the six ruffians comprising the gang, five of them were flocking into the small stable, three bearing the bound form of the detective. Only Bryan remained outside, and he fell to turning the car, in which Janet Payson still was seated. Not one among them had any apprehension of immediate danger. Other figures were approaching, however, those of half a score of men, Patsy Garvan among them. They were stealing as noiselessly as shadows from the woods and shrubbery back of the stable, which they rapidly approached, with ranks dividing to pass around both sides of it. Every man was armed with a rifle or a shotgun, save Patsy Garvan, and he carried a revolver in each hand.