Part 49 (1/2)
”Certainly.”
”Who was with him on the wharf?”
”I don't know.”
The two rascals talked the matter over for some time, but could come to no conclusion regarding the young gymnast.
They wished to get him out of the way, but hardly dared to undertake such a high-handed proceeding before the captain and crew of the tug.
”I have it,” said Griswold, half an hour later. ”See that town over there?”
”Yes.”
”Let us tie up there. I'll go ash.o.r.e and hire a close coach and drive it myself. We can take him inside and--”
He did not finish, but his half-drunken companion understood.
Their victim should never get away from them alive.
The tug captain was given orders, and soon a landing was approached.
After tying up Hank Griswold hurried ash.o.r.e. He procured a coach with difficulty, and it was some time before he appeared on the box, whip in hand.
Then the two men went to the locker, intending to drag Leo forth, gag him, and roll him up as though he were a bundle of clothes.
”Gone!” burst from Griswold's lips.
He spoke the truth. The locker was empty.
”How did he manage it?” queried Broxton, in deep perplexity.
Griswold looked dumfounded for a moment. Then he grated his teeth in rage.
”Fools that we are!” he shouted. ”To forget that he is a gymnast. Why, he must have freed himself within a minute after we locked him in.”
”By thunder! that's so. But how did he get out of the locker?”
”I don't know.”
”The door was locked, wasn't it?”
”Yes.”
An examination followed, but the two men could not solve the mystery connected with Leo's escape.
We will let our reader into the secret.
As Griswold said, the boy slipped from his bonds with ease.
This done, he lit a match he had in his pocket and began an examination of his cramped prison.