“But that night I noticed a change in his manner. He seemed nervous and a trifle irritable. We had made all preparations to start back the next morning and you can imagine my surprise when he demanded ten thousand dollars as the price of taking me back. I argued and threatened all to no purpose. Here I was and here I was going to stay till I came across. Can you beat it? Of course, I told him that I didn’t have the money and so couldn’t give it to him, but he said that I could write for it. Then I tried to show him how easy it would be for me to have him arrested after we got back, but that didn’t work. He said he was going to hit the trail for some place way up in Canada, and I’d never be able to get him. It was mighty important for me to be home several days ago but I just wouldn’t give in. You know I’ve got a pretty well developed stubborn streak in me and I do hate to be made do a thing like that. “But haven’t you tried to get away?” Bob asked. Rex grinned. “If you knew Parry as well as I do you wouldn’t need to ask that question. I’m fairly good at a rough and tumble and know something about boxing. I tried once to mix it up with him and I stood about as much show as an icicle would in—well, in a furnace. Honestly, he’s positively the strongest man I ever saw. He didn’t beat me up. Just held me with one hand and laughed. Oh, I got in a few good punches which had about as much effect as so many rain drops.” “He must be good if he did that,” Bob declared. “Good is right. You see that big poker there by the fireplace. Well, I saw him bend that till the ends touched with just his hands and then he straightened it out just as easily, and I couldn’t bend it a bit even over my knee. Believe me, if that fellow should ever get a chance at Dempsey, we’d have a new champ in less’n three rounds.” “But does he keep you tied up all the time?” Bob asked. “Oh no. Only at night and when he goes out, and then, believe me, he makes a good job of it.” “So I see,” Bob agreed as he examined the rope. “But what are we going to do, Rex? There’s got to be some way.” “Well,” Rex began slowly, “I’ve been thinking ever since you came in. A rough and tumble is out of the question. I know you’re good with your fists and all that, but against Parry Magloire the three of us would be like so many children, and I would hate like blazes to shoot him or anything of that sort. You see, in a way, I admire the man and so would you if you knew him.” “That’s all right, but—,” Bob began when Rex interrupted.