Part 3 (2/2)

”You look out,” he said, ”there's a snake in there, that black-eyed snake who claimed to be Lieutenant Rae! Do you want him to know that we are wise to his game?”

Ned turned and started away from the house, but there came a call from the structure, and the next instant two men were running out to greet him. More by gestures than by words they informed the boys that there was a man in the house wished to see them.

In a moment they stood facing the man who had called himself Lieutenant Rae. He advanced to meet them and pointed to chairs as they entered the room.

”Out for a walk?” he asked, with a smile.

Ned nodded and Jimmie grinned.

”The owner of this house,” Rae went on, ”is an old friend of mine. We met first, years ago, in San Francisco. I'm staying here while in the town. By the way, I was about to visit your quarters.”

”Come along,” Ned said. ”We must be getting back.”

Rae left the room, saying that he would bring a raincoat, and Jimmie pointed to a rear apartment where an old Chinaman with a long, sinister cicatrice on his left cheek was bending over a table.

”That's the c.h.i.n.k who brings our grub,” he said. ”What is this Rae person doing here? I don't eat no more grub that c.h.i.n.k brings.”

Ned made no reply, for a swinging closet door attracted his attention at that moment. Inside the narrow closet, on the rough floor, lay a pair of European shoes. Ned slipped forward and seized one. When Rae returned it was hidden in a capacious pocket.

”What is it?” whispered Jimmie.

”If I'm not much mistaken,” was the reply, ”it is the shoe that made the tracks we have been following.”

”Then this Rae person didn't always enter the old house where we are stopping by the front way,” commented Jimmie. ”Gee,” he added, ”I'll bet he umpired that fight, and the man the c.h.i.n.ks carried off is in this house now.”

There was no more opportunity for conversation between the two boys at that time, for Rae stood watching them closely, a sneering smile on his face. Ned turned toward the door.

”Why venture out in the storm?” asked Rae. ”Surely, there is no need of haste. Your friends will not lose themselves during your absence.”

”You were ready to go, a moment ago,” Ned said.

”It is the storm,” the other observed, with a shrug of the shoulders.

”It is increasing in violence every moment.”

Glancing into the rear room, Ned saw the old Chinaman leave his work and pa.s.s through a door to the west. The boy thought he recognized a significant signal as the fellow disappeared,

The lads never knew exactly how it all occurred. They only knew at the time that there was a quick rush, a flash of weapons, a desperate struggle, then momentary unconsciousness.

They decided afterwards that their enemies had rushed upon them from every direction, and that the sneering face of Rae had gloated over their capture.

”Don't injure them,” Rae ordered, as ropes were knotted about the wrists and ankles of the prisoners. ”I'll go out now and see that the two Black Bears,” with a double sneer in his voice, ”are taken into camp in short order. Bad climate, this, for school boys who imitate wild animals,” he added, with a malicious smile. ”A bad climate.”

”You're all right!” Jimmie called out, as Rae paused in the doorway for an instant. ”You're all right! But let me give you a pointer. You keep the Bears and Wolves you get in strong cages! If they get out, they'll eat you up!”

”Oh! I'll pull their fangs!” laughed the other, and then he was gone.

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