He ran along the side of the building. He fancied he heard a muffled shout in Phil's voice, and ran still faster. Very near to the doorway where the strange man had lurked, Andy halted with a shock. "Hey, there!" challenged a sharp though cautious voice from overhead. "There you are! Get away from here, quick!" A vague pair of arms appeared at an open upper window. They dropped a square package done up in paper. So suddenly did all this come upon the wonder-stricken Andy, that, before he could catch the package or dodge its descent, it struck him squarely on the head, and sent him flat. CHAPTER IX IN THE ENEMY'S HANDS Something had happened to Phil Warrington as he reached the rear of the town hall building--something unlooked for, sudden and alarming. His trusty chum had seen only part of the mishap to Phil. The latter was now struggling for release from the grasp of a brawny villain. Just as Phil had passed the deep doorway at the rear of the building, a man had stepped from its obscure shadows. "Hello! who are you, and what do you want?" he demanded sharply. Phil was rather startled by the unexpected appearance and keen manner of the challenger. He was somewhat embarrassed, too. The first thought suggested to his mind was that here he had obtruded on the sentinel guarding a secret conclave within the structure. "I was trying to find out if there was a meeting here," said Phil. "I was looking for Dr. Warren." "Eh? Warren? What for?" demanded the stranger. "I have a message for him." "You have?" cried the man eagerly. "Give it to me! I'll take it to him." "No," said Phil, "I will deliver it to him myself." At that Phil drew back--rather dodged back. The man had acted eager, and even had reached out as if to seize Phil. Then, too, the boy noticed his face more clearly. It was an evil face, and his suspicions were aroused. He saw that, thrown momentarily off his guard, he had imparted too much to a stranger, and he turned to retrace his steps quickly to the street. Then the man reached out and seized his arm firmly, and forcibly pulling Phil with him, jerked the lad around the corner of the building, out of the sight of the street and of Andy. "Hold on,--stop!" demanded Phil, trying to make a resolute stand. "I'll take you to Dr. Warren," cried his rough captor quickly. "It's only a few steps from here. He's waiting for you. Told me if any messages came to take 'em, or bring 'em to him. I'm his body-guard, I am. Hurry up, he'll be anxious to see you." The glib, eager fellow had said too much, and Phil at once saw that he was not telling the truth. Dimly as Phil viewed his face, there was light enough to show it belonged to a person of unprepossessing, if not absolutely suspicious, appearance. "There is no need of quite crushing my arm, if you are a body-guard of Dr. Warren," said Phil, trying to draw away from the clutch of the fellow.