Without another word Dick leaped for the door. The key was in the lock, but ere he could turn it Buddy Girk hauled him back. A scuffle followed, which came to a sudden termination when Arnold Baxter raised his heavy cane and struck the boy, on the back of the head. With a million stars dancing before his eyes, poor Dick went down completely dazed. Girk lost no time in following up the advantage thus gained, and by the time Dick felt like rising he found his hands bound behind him and a gag of knotted cloth stuffed into his mouth. Then his feet were fastened together, and he was rolled up in an old blanket much the worse for wear and the want of washing. "Now, come on, before anybody else spots us!" exclaimed Baxter. "If you can lift him alone I'll bring the light. I'm no good on the carry yet." "All right, light the way," answered Buddy Girk, and took up the form of the boy. Taking up the smoky lamp, Arnold Baxter led the way out of a rear door to a side hallway. Here two flights of stairs led to a low and ill ventilated cellar. The underground apartment had never been used for anything but old rubbish, and this was piled high on all sides. "Here we are," said Baxter, as he paused in front of what had once been a stone coal bin. "Dump him in there and shut the door on him. I don't believe he'll get out in any hurry." Dick's form was dropped on a heap of dirty newspapers and straw. Then Girk and Baxter left the bin. There was a heavy door to the place, and this they closed and shoved the rusty bolt into the socket. In a second more they were on their way upstairs again, and Dick was left to his fate. CHAPTER VIII THE SEARCH FOR DICK "Dick is taking his time, that's certain." The remark came from Sam, after the boys who had been left in the alleyway had waited the best part of half an hour for the elder Rover's reappearance. "Perhaps he has found something of interest," suggested Frank. "And perhaps he has fallen into a trap," put In Tom. "I've a good mind to hunt him up." "If you go I'll go with you," said Sam. "I don't want to be left out here alone," said Frank. "Let us wait a little longer." The best part of an hour passed, but of course nothing was seen or heard of Dick. "I shan't wait any longer," began Tom, when they saw the front door of the tenement opened and two men hurried forth. Both had their hats pulled far down over their eyes and had their coat collars turned up, even though the night was warm. "Out of sight!" cried Sam in a low voice, and they dropped down behind the stoop of the second tenement. "One of those men was Buddy Girk!" ejaculated Tom, when the pair had passed up the alleyway. "And don't you know who the other was?" demanded Sam. "It was Dan Baxter's father!" "Impossible, Sam. Arnold Baxter is in the hospital, and--" "It was Dan Baxter's father, as true as I'm born, Tom. No wonder he walked with a cane! Am I not right, Frank?"