“You are very glad to see me, my children,” said he, as he rubbed his hands together. “Of course we are,” said Skip Brodie. “Got anything for us to do?” Dick Denton rapped on the door, and the Jew started at the sound. Raising both his hands above his head, he hoarsely whispered: “Do not open the door.” “It’s Dick Denton,” said one. Once more Ben Baker went to the door. The usual formula was gone through with. “Blue!” “Green!” “Yellow!” “Stop!” The Jew caught Ben Baker’s arm as he was about to open the door. “Are you crazy?” “No! no!” cried the Jew. “Tell me, do you know the voice?” “As well as I do my own. It is Dick Denton.” “You are sure?” Baker admitted Dick. “Hello, old Shylock!” remarked Mr. Denton. “Very glad to see you, Dick.” “You always are, I know, when I have any swag.” “Say, Moses,” said Ben Baker, “why were you so anxious about my not opening the door unless I recognized the voice? Don’t you know we have hundreds of members I never saw, and I am an old hand?” “I know all the boys, and they all know old Moses.” “There is no doubt of that,” remarked Ben Baker, “especially if they ever had any dealings with you. But, come, that is not answering my question.” They all had gathered around the table, now, and were engaged in helping each other to empty the bottles. “Boys!” cried the Jew, “you must leave here. You have been betrayed. Detective Nick Carter knows of this place, and may be down on it at any moment.” “Betrayed!” shouted the brutes, in chorus. “Tell me, who was it betrayed us?” Skip caught Moses roughly by the arm. “They must have set no value upon their life.” “Was it Tambourine Jack?” suggested Mackrell. “No; not him.” “Who, then?” shouted several of the ruffians. “Speak, you old screw, speak!” said Skip, tightening his grasp upon the other’s arm. “You will not strike me?” “No.” “It was Dell Ladley.” “You lie, Jew, the girl is as true as steel; I don’t go much on giving secrets to women, but she is different to the rest.” As he spoke, Skip Brodie raised his fist and would have felled Old Man Moses to the floor, had he not been prevented by his companions. “I swear to you what I say is true,” muttered the Jew, quivering with fear, so fierce were the looks that were directed at him. “What proof have you?” “I heard her; she did not know that I listened,” replied the old Hebrew; “she is to enter and open the door for Carter and the officers he will have with him.” “The devil shoot that same Carter, say I!” The sentiments of the speaker, a burly Irishman, found an echo in the breast of all. “Excuse me, Moses, I believe you; I was too hasty.” Skip extended his hand and the other grasped it. “Why should I tell a lie?” said the Jew; “are we not bound to tell the truth to each other where business is concerned?” “Hark!” exclaimed Ben Baker, “I hear footsteps.” “Quick, Barney, the boat!”