CHAPTER XV.
PUMPING A PRISONER.
"Gentlemen, you are our prisoners!" cried Harry.
The bursting of a bomb could not have startled the smugglers more.
With cries of affright, they glanced around and seeing who was attackingthem, they were more startled than ever.
The detectives had grasped the wounded men.
Seeing their peril, the two uninjured Canadians rushed to the rescue.
With one accord, the detectives hurled their prisoners to the planks of thebridge and sprang forward eagerly to meet their foes.
The next moment the smugglers drew their pistols.
Before they could fire a shot, the detectives let their fists fly, and in amoment more a terrific fight was going on.
During the fracas Clara escaped.
Bang! went Old King Brady's powerful fist against the jaw of one of thevillains, and it knocked the man flat on his back.
He was stunned.
As he fell close to the wounded man whom Harry had flung down, the oldofficer whipped out his handcuffs and linked the pair together.
Harry had kicked the pistol out of his opponent's hand.
The man now had to depend upon his fists.
Both he and Young King Brady met with a crash and were punching each otherfuriously when the old detective arose.
It was Jean, the one who had smuggled the diamonds over the border, andHarry was delighted over the discovery.
The young detective was a scientific boxer.
He warded off several heavy swings and gave Jean an upper cut on the mouththat split his lips open.
The man recoiled, but Harry followed him up like a bull dog.
He received a painful blow in the stomach, and caught Jean's foot as heaimed a swinging kick at the boy.
Harry clung to the man's ankle.
Giving it a jerk, he upset the Canadian's balance and Jean fell with acrash, and rolled over.
He was just going to rise when the boy pounced on him, and a fiercestruggle began for the mastery.
Old King Brady would have gone to his pupil's aid had not the other woundedman drawn a pistol and opened fire on him.
A bullet whistled past the old detective's head.
He sprang at the man just as he was about to fire a second shot andgrasping him by the wrist, turned the pistol aside.
The ball was spent harmlessly in the air.
Jabbering in French, the man made an effort to wrench the weapon free, butOld King Brady was too quick for him.
He brought down his fist on the rascal's arm.
The force of that blow was awful.
It numbed the arm and the pistol fell from his nerveless fingers.
The next moment Old King Brady's fist caught him on the nose, almostsmashing that organ flat, and as the Canadian bit the dust, the detectivelanded on top of him like a tiger seizing its prey.
"I've got you now!" exclaimed the old detective, fiercely.
"Mercy!" groaned the man.
"Roll over."
"Yes--yes."
"Place your hands behind your back."
"Yes."
"Now keep still, or I'll strangle you."
Old King Brady tied the man with his handkerchief and rose.
By the time he got upon his feet, Harry had overpowered Jean and had thebracelets on his wrists.
"Victory!" chuckled the boy.
"Four," said the old detective. "That ain't a bad haul!"
"But the girl has escaped."
"Never mind, Harry. We are well paid for our work."
The shots, noise, fight and general excitement, had brought a crowd rushingto the spot. There was a policeman among them.
But they arrived too late to be of any assistance.
Rushing up to the Bradys officiously, the panting policeman asked:
"What's the matter here?"
"Nothing," replied Harry.
"Do you call that nothing?" asked the policeman, grabbing the boy.
"Here--you!" exclaimed Old King Brady, showing his badge. "Let go thatdetective and ring up the wagon so we can run in these prisoners. Steplively now, and don't try to be too smart."
"Detective?" asked the policeman.
Harry showed his badge.
The policeman wilted, and the crowd laughed at him.
Without a word he hurried away to order the patrol wagon.
It soon arrived.
The prisoners were lifted aboard and accompanied by the Bradys, were drivento the nearest police station.
Formal complaints were entered against the four Canadians and when theywere locked up, the detectives departed.
In the street Harry said to his partner:
"After all, we haven't accomplished such a lot."
"Why not?" demanded Old King Brady, in surprise.
"Because we've only got Mrs. La Croix and the four spies."
"Well, ain't they valuable?"
"Of course. But they are of the least consequence in this case. We don'tknow where the diamonds are, and both La Croix and his daughter are yet atlarge."
"Oh, we'll find them before long. As for the diamonds, why, La Croix can'toffer them to any big dealer in this city, Boston, Philadelphia, orChicago, but what we will be informed of the fact."
"He hasn't made any effort to dispose of them yet, then."
"No. We would have heard of it, if he had."
"There are plenty of unscrupulous people who would buy them in small lots,and thus he'd gradually get rid of the whole lot."
"That ain't La Croix's game. He expects to save $35,000 duty on thosegems, besides about $15,000 profit which he expects to make. He's got to dohis work quick to gain his money. With a stake of $50,000 to work for, he'sgoing to give us a hard fight."
"Of course. Can't you put the screws on the prisoners?"
"Make them confess?"
"One of the bunch might squeal."
"Perhaps, if we give them the Third Degree."
"Try it. They must know where the Frenchman and his daughter are."
"I shall. It's our only chance to locate the diamonds."
They went home and laid out a plan.
Before the prisoners were brought to court next morning, the Bradysappeared at the police station and had a talk with the captain.
He fell in with their views and said:
"You are at liberty to pump the prisoners here, if you can."
Accompanied by the doorkeeper, the detectives went back to the celloccupied by Jean.
The man was nervously pacing to and fro and glanced at the detectives withan ugly scowl, when they entered.
Pausing before them he demanded:
"Have you come to gloat over my misery?"
"No. We are not so cruel. All we want is some information."
"What about, Old King Brady?"
"The smuggled diamonds."
"And if I refuse?"
"We'll arrest your bride!"
The man turned pale, for the detective had touched his weakest point.
Grasping Old King Brady's arm, he said in appealing tones:
"Don't do that. She is innocent. Why drag her into my trouble?"
"She was with you when the diamonds were smuggled."
"True. But she didn't know anything about it. She didn't have anything todo with the work. I alone am the guilty party."
"That don't make any difference to us. If you don't make a clean breast ofthe matter, I'll pull her in. That settles it!"
The Canadian pondered a few moments.
Then he said with a sigh:
"Well, I may as well tell you La Croix has got them. You'd find it outanyway, the way you are following up this case."
"Of course I will. And what's more, we know he's got them. But what I wantto know most of all, is, where is La Croix?"
"At the Astor House."
"Under what name?"
"His wife's maiden name: Savoy."
"Does Clara know it?"
"Certainly."
"Are any of the diamonds sold yet?"
"Not that I know. But they will be."
"When?"
"To-day."
"He has found a purchaser for the lot?"
"Exactly. They are to meet in the Astor House to-day at twelve and end thesale."
Old King Brady glanced hastily at his watch.
It was then half-past eleven and to reach the Astor House would takethree-quarters of an hour!