Part 24 (1/2)
”So, you're awake, are you?” he asked.
”What's the matter--what has happened, Mr. Wakely?” asked Roy, recognizing the man who had treated him to ice cream soda.
”Oh, you're all right. You're just staying here for a few days.”
”But what happened? Did the hotel catch fire? Did I get hurt? Did they bring me here?”
”I brought you here, but the hotel did not catch fire.”
”Then why am I not there--in my own room?”
”This is your room for a while.”
Something in the man's smile roused Roy's suspicions.
”What do you mean?” he asked quickly.
”Now keep quiet and you'll be all right,” spoke Mr. Wakely, in what he meant to be a soothing tone. ”You can't help yourself. You're here, and you're going to stay.”
All of Roy's energies were aroused. He believed he had been brought to the place for the purposes of robbery. But how had it been done without his knowledge? He started to leave the bed.
”No you don't!” exclaimed Mr. Wakely. ”You stay right there.”
”What's that?” cried Roy, a sudden fire coming into his eyes, and his hands clenching themselves ready for a fray. ”I must say you've got nerve to do this. I'm going to get up, and you and I are going to have a tussel! I guess I haven't roped wild steers, and ridden bucking broncos, for nothing!”
He threw off the covers, noting for the first time that he was fully dressed. But, as he attempted to approach Mr. Wakely a dizziness overcame him, and he sank back, trembling on the bed.
”You see I am right,” went on the plotter with an evil smile. ”You had better stay where you are.”
It seemed to Roy as if all his strength had left him. He had never felt so weak before, save once, when he was recovering from a severe fever.
”Where am I; and what do you want?” he managed to ask.
”Now if you'll promise to lie quietly, I'll tell you,” went on the man.
”I guess I'll not take any chances though. I'll tie you in bed, and you can listen then.”
It did not take him long, in Roy's weakened condition, to fasten the boy securely in the bed, by means of ropes which he took from the cupboard.
”There,” remarked Mr. Wakely when he had finished. ”I think you'll stay there for a while. Now listen. You have been brought here for a certain purpose. I can't tell you just what it is, but, if you behave yourself, no harm will come to you.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”I think you'll stay there for a while,” said Wakely]
”But what right have you got to bring me here?”
”Never mind about that. You're here, and you're going to stay.”
”I'll call for help, as soon as I'm able.”
”And a lot of good it will do you. You are on the top floor of a tenement house, and there are no tenants except on the first floor.
You can yell until you are hoa.r.s.e, for there is a big electric light plant near here. It runs night and day and it makes so much noise constantly that all the yelling you can do won't be heard above it.