Part 13 (1/2)
”I don't believe your yarn, boy--they looked like very respectable gentlemen, both of them. You had better go about your business--after you have paid me for breaking down the door. You shan't ransack their property.”
”If you stop us, I'll call in the police and have you arrested,”
came promptly from Tom.
This threat nearly took away Caleb Yates' breath. ”Arrested!” he gasped.
”Yes, arrested. My brother came in here, and is missing. Those two men are our enemies. If you want to keep out of trouble you will help us to hunt up my brother.”
”That is just what you had better do, sir,” added Frank.
”And who are you?” demanded the irate landlord.
”I am Frank Harrington, son of Senator Harrington.”
At this unexpected announcement the jaw of the landlord dropped perceptibly. ”Why--er--I didn't know you were Senator Harrington's son,” he stammered.
”I think if you wish to keep out of trouble you had best aid us all you can. The young man we are after came in here a short while ago and has utterly disappeared. I am afraid he has met with foul play.”
”But Mr. Arson and Mr. n.o.ble are gone.”
”Is that the names they were known under?”
”Yes.”
”Their right names are Girk and Baxter. They left the building just before we came up.”
”What was your brother doing here?” asked Caleb Yates in a calmer tone.
”He was not my brother, but my warmest friend. He was tracking the short man, the fellow whose name is Girk. Girk once robbed him of his watch.”
”I see. And you are sure of your men? If you are, search away, for I want no shady characters in these houses.”
The search began immediately, several of the inmates of the tenements taking part. Everything in the room Girk and Baxter had occupied was turned topsy-turvy, but no trace of d.i.c.k was brought to light until Tom looked under the table.
”Here's his pocket-knife!” he cried, and held the article up.
”This proves that he came in here beyond a doubt.”
”Yes; but where is he now?” put in Sam.
”They couldn't have spirited him away.”
”He can't be far off,” said Frank.
Again was the search renewed. The men had had one large room and one small apartment, where were located a dilapidated bed and a small writing table. On the table lay some writing material and several sc.r.a.ps of paper, but they were of no value.
The search through the rooms and hallways of the tenement lasted fully an hour. By this time the tenants who had gathered began to grow sleepy again, and one after another went back to their apartments.
”I don't think you are going to find anything,” remarked Caleb Yates. ”To my way of thinking, that boy must have followed the two men when they left.”