"Gee, I expected it, an' I didn't!" was Skippy's comment. "Did we hear Timmy say that old sedan went over into the lake, or didn't we?" "We did _and how_! You're right, kid, it looks like I'm goofey about that spook stuff. We won't argue about it no more. What we gonna do all day, hah?" "Work on those bars," Skippy grinned. "Gee whiz, Nick, tell the truth, I didn't think we'd have the chance. I thought he had us where he wanted." Seven hours later, they were not so sure but that Devlin would be triumphant after all. They had worked sedulously during that time but there was only a little give in the top bar and the boys were well nigh discouraged. Sitting atop the trunk they surveyed the bars ruefully. Another day was drawing to its close, another day that brought them nearer to the Fate which only Devlin held the key to. Skippy felt weary and sick. "There's no use, I guess, Nick. It's comin' out like Timmy said--we can't do a thing till he takes us outa here for our turn." "Yeah, then we gotta use our beans an' scram. But it's got _me_, kid; we saw in that book how much money he expects from us. How can he get it when we're dead?" "I dunno. We ain't gonna hash this mystery business all over again--I'm too blamed tired. All I'm sure of is that Devlin gets money for us an' sometime or other he'll wanta kill us for some reason. Timmy said it was a trick about him shippin' us west, so that's the night he does it--always at night, you know that. When that night comes for us, we just gotta outguess him." "An' it's about a month from the time he takes us to a sawbones," Nickie said mournfully. "Well, if we can't do nothin' else about it, I'm gonna pull myself together. But one thing, I hope he takes us together--see. If you go first or I go--holy smoke, I can't stand it if he takes us separate. I'm scared I'll lose my nerve--you know it?" "Forget it, Nick. Whatever he does, be foxy an' forget about me n' I'll do the same. Gee whiz, from what Timmy said he don't tie you down--if he did that we wouldn't have a chance. Now quit worryin', an' let's get down before he comes. I'll hide the things again an' maybe he'll be out a lotta the time an' we can try it again. If we keep pullin' on them bars we'll weaken 'em after awhile even if it's weeks." "Yeah, weeks too late." Nickie's spirits rose considerably a little later. Devlin had come in with a pail of chicken fricassee and an apple pie, announcing that he had stopped at a lunch wagon to give the boys a treat. Skippy almost decided that all his suspicions had been unfounded. The problem was a tormenting one. Could anyone be so cruel? Devlin's face, always a study, was no nearer revealing what lay behind his grave features than on the day they had first seen him. Just now he was as much absorbed in the chicken fricassee as the boys were.