COWARDLY WORK.
Bang!
The fellow struck up against the wall and fell to the floor, where he
lay, groaning dismally.
There were exclamations of astonishment from the other members of the
gang.
“Well,” grunted one, a strapping six-footer, “he’s tied and gagged, but
he is still able to fight.”
“He’s--half--killed--me!” gasped the fellow Frank had kicked. “But I’ll
make him suffer for it!”
“Better see his feet are tied before you try any more tricks with him,”
half laughed the big whitecap, who seemed to admire Frank’s pluck.
“Tie his legs!” grated the leader, sitting up, but still groaning. “Tie
them at the knees!”
Frank made a sudden leap and placed his back against the wall, while
his eyes flashed the defiance and warning his lips could not utter. It
was plain enough that he meant to defend himself as long as possible,
bound though he was.
“At him!” snarled the leader. “Jump on him!”
“Why don’t you get in and do some of the jumping?” asked the big
fellow. “Here’s a nice chance for you.”
“Oh, I will! I’ll----”
He finished with a cry of pain and fell back to the floor, after trying
to rise.
“My leg!” he gasped. “I believe it is broken!”
A sound like mocking laughter came from behind the gag in Merry’s mouth.
“He’s laughing!” muttered one of the gang, in astonishment.
“Good grit!” nodded the big fellow.
“I believe you are in sympathy with him!” snarled the leader. “Help me
up, somebody!”
They aided him to rise, but it was with difficulty that he could stand
unassisted upon his feet. He leaned against the wall, glaring in a
deadly manner at the defiant captive.
“Are you going to let him stand there and bluff you all?” he fumed.
“You can down him with a rush. Go at him now!”
“We’re not paid for that,” said the big fellow. “We were paid to catch
him and bring him here. That’s what we’ve done.”
“I’ll pay you! Down him! I’ll make it five dollars more all round.”
“That goes!” was the cry, and the ruffians rushed upon Frank.
Then Merry’s feet came into play. In France he had learned the art of
boxing with his feet, and he could handle them almost as nimbly as an
ordinary boxer could handle his fists. The first man to spring at him
received a kick in the stomach that doubled him up like a jack-knife,
the next was hurled to the floor, and the third got one on the side of
the head that sent him staggering away, bewildered and blinded.
But there were too many of them, and Frank was not able to stand them
off more than a few seconds. They crushed him to the floor, and his
legs were bound at the knees, as the leader directed.
In this assault the big fellow had taken no part. He stood aloof,
his arms folded over his broad breast, looking on with an air of
indifference.
When Frank was subjugated and helpless, the leader turned on the big
fellow and expressed anger at his conduct.
“That will do!” was the surly retort that was growled from beneath
the mask. “I won’t stand it from you! I did my part of this business
according to agreement. I did not agree to do anything more.”
“You don’t get an extra V.”
“I don’t want it, so don’t worry yourself.”
The leader ordered a fire to be built in the old open fireplace, and
his directions were carried out. He could scarcely hobble round, and he
was in an ugly mood.
With his own hands, he removed the gag from Frank Merriwell’s mouth.
“That is better,” said Frank, coolly. “My jaws were aching.”
“That will be nothing to what is coming!” declared the fellow. “I’ll
make you wish you never were born!”
“Marvelous! You must be a perfect savage.”
“Well, I am going to treat you the way savages sometimes treat their
captives.”
“I’m sorry about that.”
“You’ll be more so before I am done with you. Oh, I’ll make you whimper
and beg!”
“Yes? Bright prospect for me; but it’s possible you had better think it
over before you go into it. It might not be healthy for you in the end.
There are other days coming--and other nights.”
“Bah! You put up a good bluff, but it does not go. I’ll take some of
the nerve out of you!”
“Your turn will come! Whatever you do will not be forgotten.”
“Rot! You are welcome to remember it. Little good that will do you.”
“Oh, I don’t know! I may make it decidedly uncomfortable for you.”
“You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“You will not know whom to strike.”
“Don’t fool yourself with that idea, Mr. Dyke Conrad!”
The leader started and caught his breath. Then he forced a harsh laugh.
“That will be all right,” he said, with attempted flippancy. “You are
welcome to think me Dyke Conrad.”
“I do not think anything about it.”
“Indeed.”
“I know!”
“How?”
“By your voice, your manner, your gestures--everything about you.”
“That won’t do. You are welcome to think what you like. I am not Dyke
Conrad, but I’m willing you should think so.”
“Dyke Conrad is the only person in Bloomfield, with the exception of
his estimable father, who could wish me harm. Whatever happens to me
to-night, Dyke Conrad shall suffer for, and that is no bluff. You will
find that I can strike when I am aroused.”
The leader of the ruffians ground his teeth together.
“When I am done with you, you will not be in condition to bother
anybody for some time to come!” he hissed.
“Oh, but I do not forget easily. I have a splendid memory. If you wish
to escape my vengeance for this night’s work, I advise you to kill me
outright--then you will hang for it.”
“Oh, I’ll take chances! I am satisfied as long as you believe me Dyke
Conrad. I don’t care what you do to him.”
The fellow looked toward the fire, which was beginning to blaze
brightly. He nodded his head, with a gesture of satisfaction.
“It will soon be ready,” he muttered.
“Are you going to fry me, or broil me?” asked Frank.
“You will be well warmed,” was the answer. “Somebody sit on his legs
and keep him still while his shoes are removed.”
This order was obeyed, and Frank’s feet were stripped till they were
bare. Then Merry realized the dastardly purpose of his captor, and,
despite himself, he turned faint.
“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the leader. “Now you are guessing it, and
you’re getting pale. I knew you would lose your nerve. I’ll have the
satisfaction of hearing you whimper and whine.”
“You cowardly cur!” came contemptuously from Frank’s lips. “You are
not a human being! You are a brute! You should associate with cowardly
savages. They would make fit companions for such a beast as you!”
“Be careful!” snarled the fellow. “Every word will be charged up
against you, and you’ll not get off any the easier for them.”
“It is not possible for me to express my contempt for you by words!”
said Frank, his voice clear and distinct.
“You’ll be expressing something else in a short time. Oh, you sing high
now, you do; but your tune will change, and you will cry pretty soon.”
The wretch selected a brand from the fire and laughed as he flashed the
blaze before Frank’s face.
“Is it warm?” he asked. “Well, it will seem warmer when I apply it to
the tender skin on your feet.”
“Go ahead!” grated Merry; “but do not forget what I have told you. My
turn will come!”
The fellow prepared to apply the blaze to Frank’s feet, but, as he
stooped to do so, another voice was heard:
“Stop!”
It was the tall whitecap, and he was pointing straight at the leader.
“Stop!” he roared. “This job doesn’t go!”