Part 24 (1/2)

”No, we divide,” insisted his loyal chum.

”Well, wait till the reward is offered, will you?” laughed Jolly. ”I say, Durham, our friend Booth must know of this. He'll get us a whole column in the newspapers. 'Exclusive and fas.h.i.+onable audience at the Wonderland. Sensational loss of priceless gems! Found by the proprietors. Consumed with anxiety to locate the owner. Latter appears-prominent society leader. Jewels restored and the Wonderland still running to crowded houses. See the great flood feature films!'

Why, it's as good as the usual lost jewels for the actress.”

Frank took charge of the chamois bag and deposited it in the tin cash box. This he locked up and as usual took it into one of the apartments where he slept.

”We shall have to keep special watch over all that valuable stuff until the bank opens Monday morning,” he explained.

Randy hung around, wrought up with excitement over their wonderful find and anxious to talk about it. Pep was very tired and went to his cot to rest. Frank, Jolly and Vincent sat with their feet on the sill of an open window, enjoying the cool breeze from the ocean and indulging in pleasant comments on the first successful week of the Wonderland.

”With the flood film and the specialty act of the great family entertainer, 'Signor Halloway Vincenzo,' I predict we will capture the town next week,” declared Ben Jolly.

”Guess I'll turn in, too,” remarked Randy, after wandering about the room aimlessly for some time.

”All right, just turn out the light, will you?” asked Frank. ”It's sort of nice to sit here with the moonlight streaming in.”

Randy took off his coat and shoes and started for the apartment where Pep was fast asleep. It contained two cots. He had started over to give Pep a shake and make him get up and undress, when he chanced to pa.s.s one of the windows and glanced out.

”Fire!” he instantly shouted, and rushed out into the room where the others were.

”What's that?” challenged Frank, springing to his feet.

”Yes, right across the block,” declared Randy. ”You can see it from the side window. Look at that!”

A glare suddenly illuminated the room. Ben Jolly moved to the window and uttered a sharp whistle of surprise. Frank ran into his room and came out with his cap on. Then there was a rush for the little back stairs running into the yard behind the building.

”Wait for me!” called out Randy, struggling to put on his shoes.

”Hey! what's all the row?” hailed Pep sleepily, as Randy stamped his foot into a shoe, grabbed up his cap and coat and made a dive for the yard.

”Fire!” bawled back Randy. ”Right near us, too! Hurry up!”

Pep sat up on his cot rubbing his eyes. Then a spurting glare from the fire lit up the room. He jumped to his feet and hurried out into the large room.

”It is a fire, sure enough,” he exclaimed, glancing from the window.

”It's that big building where they rent rooms to transients. The whole roof is ablaze and--”

Pep came to a sudden halt. Just stepping over the threshold of the doorway at the head of the yard steps, he was confronted by two men running up them.

One of them threw out one hand. It landed on Pep's breast, almost pus.h.i.+ng him off his footing, and was accompanied by the gruff voice:

”Hey, you get back in there!”

CHAPTER XXI-THE TIN BOX

Pep was a quick thinker. He could not tell how it was, but the minute his eyes lighted on the two strangers he somehow a.s.sociated them with the group from whom he had antic.i.p.ated trouble earlier in the night. In fact he was not sure that they were not two members of the quartette who had been the object of the visit of the officer from the city.

”What do you want?” Pep instantly challenged.