HARDWICK'S DASH FOR LIBERTY.
Hal and the others listened with keen interest to Hardwick's words. The
ex-book-keeper had the missing railroad bonds with him, and he intended
to transfer them to Samuels, to be disposed of to the best advantage.
"Now is the time to capture the gang," thought Hal. "I wish my hands
were free."
"Let us see what has become of Carson first," said Allen, nervously.
"Somehow I don't feel safe as long as that boy is within possible
hearing."
"Don't get afraid," replied Parsons. "Tommy Macklin has probably done
him up, or you would hear something from him."
"Macklin tried to remove him once before," returned Allen, with a shake
of his head. "That boy beats all for shrewdness."
"I would like to settle him myself," growled Hardwick. "We would never
have had the least bit of trouble if it hadn't been for him. Like as not
I would still have been Sumner's head and confidential clerk," he added,
with a sarcastic laugh.
"Yes, and I could have made life bitterness itself for Horace Sumner,"
cried Allen. "I wanted to do more than ruin him."
"What makes you so bitter against Sumner?" asked Parsons.
"That's my affair," replied Allen, shortly.
"It's because Sumner married the girl Allen wanted," put in Samuels.
"Allen was clean gone on her, and when she married Sumner it broke him
all up."
"Shut up, Samuels!" exclaimed Allen, evidently angry at having the
matter mentioned. "There are but few know of it, and I don't want it to
reach Horace Sumner's ears, or----"
"It won't reach him through me, Allen, and he will never suspect that
you had anything to do with his son's----"
"Will you shut up!" roared Allen, turning white with rage. "One would
think, by the way your tongue rattles, that you had been drinking."
"Only had a couple of glasses," returned Samuels, coolly. "So don't get
worked up, Allen."
Hal listened to this conversation with deep interest. It revealed why
Allen was so bitter against Horace Sumner, and so willing to cheat his
partner.
"But I don't understand about that child business yet," muttered Hal to
himself.
While the others were talking Hardwick had been examining the closets,
and he now came to the one in which the others had placed Hal.
"Hullo! here he is!" he shouted. "Well, how do you feel, you beggar?"
the last to the boy.
"Not very well," replied Hal coolly. His hands were now loose, but he
kept them behind him.
"You'll feel a sight worse before we are done with you," returned
Hardwick, grimly.
"What do you intend to do with me?"
"You'll see soon enough," said the ex-book-keeper.
He turned to the others, and as he did so Hal bent down and freed his
feet.
"By Jove! he's loose!" cried Parsons, glancing around.
"Yes, and I intend to stay so," cried Hal, stepping into the room.
"Hardwick, I want that tin box."
"Ho! ho! hear him talk!" exclaimed Hardwick. "Jump on him, boys!"
"Stand back, every one of you!" cried Hal. "I am not alone here. There
is plenty of help!"
He uttered the last word loudly, and on the instant the doors leading to
the dining-room, and the one from the library opened, and Horace Sumner
stepped into the parlor, followed by the two officers.
"Trapped!" howled Allen. "Macklin has either been outwitted or he has
played us false!"
The two officers held pistols in their hands, and they lost no time in
coming to the front.
"Surrender, all of you!" cried one of them.
"Never!" cried Allen. "Do you think I am to be caught like a rat in a
trap?"
He made a dash for the hall-way, and was quickly followed by Samuels.
But the two policemen were too quick for the pair, and they were
speedily overtaken, and then a desperate struggle ensued.
In the meantime Parsons tried to jump through the door-way leading to
the library. In order to do this he had to pass Horace Sumner, and
putting out his foot the old broker sent the man sprawling to the floor,
and then ended his struggles by sitting down on him so suddenly that
Parsons' wind was knocked completely out of him.
Hal still confronted Hardwick, whose eyes were fairly blazing with
passion.
"Give me the box!" commanded Hal. "Quick! I mean what I say."
Instead of complying Hardwick made a vicious blow for Hal's head. The
boy dodged, but in doing so slipped and went down on his back.
Before he could recover, Hardwick sprang for one of the open windows,
and leaped through, carrying part of the long sash with him.
He had hardly disappeared when Hal was on his feet again. Without
hesitation the youth followed through the broken window. Hardwick was
making for the road, where stood a team of horses attached to a fine
sleigh.
"If he gets away in that he and the tin box are goners!" was Hal's rapid
conclusion. "I must stop him at all hazards."
Hardwick had a good start, but Hal made quick time after him, and when
the ex-book-keeper reached the sleigh the boy was not a dozen yards
behind.
"Stop, Hardwick!" he cried.
"Not much, Carson! Take that!"
Hardwick pulled out his weapon. There were two reports in rapid
succession. Hal was struck in the side, and Hardwick stumbled down.
Hal was quite badly hurt, but he braced up and staggered to where
Hardwick lay.
"Now give up the tin box," he ordered, in as steady a voice as he could.
"Never to you!" roared Hardwick. "You have been the cause of all my
trouble. Take that!"
He fired. One bullet grazed Hal's shoulder, the others flew wide of
their mark. Then the boy took the butt of his own weapon and with one
blow on Hardwick's head knocked the villain unconscious.
The mist was swimming before his eyes as he gathered up the tin box and
its precious contents, and staggered toward the house. The policemen had
made prisoners of the gang, and Horace Sumner ran out to meet the youth.
"You are shot, Hal?" he cried, in quick alarm.
"Yes, Mr. Sumner--I--I am shot," was the low reply. "But here is the tin
box and--the--bonds--safe."
And with these words Hal pitched over insensible into the broker's arms.