Part 32 (1/2)
”Yes--no, for goodness' sake, not the police,” exclaimed Donald. ”Dad, Jarrow, here's that Ready kid spying on us. He was caught in the hall by that Italian next door, who thought he was a sneak thief.”
”Ha! Ready, you are the most unlucky lad I know,” cried Judson, coming to the door, ”we've got you just where we want you this time. There are no chimneys here. Bring him inside.”
”Not much! Help!” Jack began to shout, but Jarrow clapped a hand over his mouth.
”Help us run him in here,” he ordered the Italian, ”I'll pay you for it.”
”Whatsa da mat'?” asked the Italian suspiciously. ”He no lika you.”
”No wonder. He robbed us once. I guess he was here to do it again. We want to settle accounts with him.”
”Oh-ho, datsa eet ees it?” said the Italian. ”All righta, I no make da troub'.”
He gave Jack a forward shove into the room of the wireless boy's enemies.
CHAPTER x.x.xIII.
IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY.
As soon as the door was shut and locked, Judson faced Jack.
”Now you keep quiet if you don't want a rap over the head with this,” he said, exhibiting a heavy bludgeon.
”Don't dare touch me,” spoke Jack boldly.
”That will depend. I want to ask you some questions. Will you answer them?”
”I shall see.”
”You followed Donald and me here and were spying on us when that Italian caught you.”
”A good thing he did,” interjected Donald.
”You heard us planning--er--er something?”
”Possibly I did.”
”Boy, I know you did.”
”Then what's the sense of asking me?”
”None of your impudence, young man! You've always been too much of a busy-body for your own good,” snarled Jarrow.
”What's the use of questioning him, dad?” said Donald. ”He'll only lie.”
”That's probably correct. I guess he heard everything. What shall we do with him?”
”Make him a prisoner,” said Jarrow.