Part 18 (2/2)
”I'll find out what they are up to, if I die for it,” he said, and clenched his hands.
Several sentences were spoken which the youth did not catch, and then came a cry from Hardwick.
”What is that you say?” he demanded. ”You saw this Carson just before you left your aunt's house?”
”Yes.”
”Impossible!”
”Why should it be!” asked Ferris.
Hardwick did not reply.
”I was right,” thought Hal, with a shudder. ”He threw those bricks on me, and thought I was either dead or next door to it. He is a thorough villain, and no mistake.”
”Why shouldn't I see Carson at the house?” went on Ferris.
”Why--I thought he wasn't going home till late,” stammered Hardwick.
”Did he say so?”
”I believe he said something about it. I didn't pay much attention.”
Hardwick was beginning to recover from his shock. ”So you saw him?”
”Yes.”
”You two don't get along very well, do you?”
”I'd like to thrash him,” growled Ferris.
”Why?”
Hal did not hear the reply. The two pa.s.sed into a room on the third floor, and the door was closed behind them.
For an instant the youth hesitated. Then he mounted to the door and applied his eye to the key-hole.
There was a brilliant light inside, but no one appeared to be present.
Having satisfied himself on this point, Hal tried the k.n.o.b of the door.
It turned, and he pushed the door open cautiously. He knew he was treading on dangerous ground and was running a great risk. Yet a strange courage seemed to have come over him, and he was not one bit nervous.
Once inside the room, he saw that it was a club apartment. Papers were scattered over the table, and cards and other games rested on a side stand.
To the left was another door, having a curtain strung over it.
From beyond the curtain came the voices of Hardwick and Ferris, and Hal knew they had seated themselves and were taking it easy.
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