Part 35 (1/2)

CHAPTER XXV

THE CAPTURE

Mr. DeVere was rather worried when he reached home, and found his daughters' note. He puzzled over what could have taken them out with Russ, and went across the hall to inquire. By this time Mrs. Dalwood had returned, and found the note her son had left.

There was not much information in it--Russ had not had time for that--and the mystery seemed all the deeper.

”I wonder what I had better do?” asked Mr. DeVere of Mrs. Dalwood.

”Just don't do anything--and don't worry,” she advised. ”I know your daughters are able to take care of themselves--especially Miss Alice.”

”Yes, she seems very capable--of late,” he agreed, remembering how she had worked to get him into the moving picture business.

”And with Russ no harm will come to them,” went on Mrs. Dalwood.

”He's a good boy.”

”Indeed he is! But I wish I knew what it was all about.”

There was the honk of an auto horn in the street below, and as they looked out, they saw, in the gleam of a street lamp, Ruth and Alice alighting.

”There they are now!” exclaimed Mr. DeVere, with a note of relief in his voice.

”But Russ isn't with them!” said Mrs. Dalwood, in surprise. ”I wonder what can have happened to him?”

Anxiously the two parents waited until the girls came up.

”Oh, such a time!” cried Alice, breathlessly.

”Where's Russ?” demanded his mother.

”After the men--Simp Wolley and Bud Brisket!”

”Oh, those horrid men!”

”He's all right,” said Ruth, gently. ”He is going to get Mr. Pertell and an officer to go with him.”

”But what is it all about?” asked Mr. DeVere.

Then, rather disjointedly, and with many interruptions, the girls told the story of the afternoon and evening, for it was now nearly nine o'clock. Of course Mr. DeVere and Mrs. Dalwood were much worried when they learned what had happened, and the widow was not at her ease when she thought of her son still not out of danger.

”But I'm sure he will soon be back,” declared Alice, confidently. She was a great comfort in trouble--a real optimist.

Then followed a period of anxious waiting.

It was broken by the return of Russ, rather disheveled, tired and excited, but with his precious model safe in the taxicab with him and Mr. Pertell.

”Why, Russ, where have you been?” cried Mrs. Dalwood.

”I just wish I'd been there!” exclaimed Billy. ”Was there a fight, Russ?”