CHAPTER XXVIII.
HAL IS EXPOSED.
The moment that Hardwick made his announcement, Parsons sprang to thefront door and locked it.
"Carson!" muttered Allen. "Hardwick, you were right, he is nothing morenor less than a spy."
When Tommy Macklin saw the face of Hal he grew pale as death.
"Carson!" he gasped, falling back.
"What's the matter with you?" demanded Hardwick.
"Dat's der chap wot followed Ferris ter my house."
"Followed Ferris. When?"
"Der night he brung me dat letter from you about dat bus'ness over toder--you know."
"You are sure?"
"Sure," repeated Macklin, in deep disgust. "I t'ink I am."
"How did you happen to catch him?"
"He was spyin' at der door, same as here. We collared him, and knockedhim down. I t'ought he was dead, an' me an' Ferris chucked him in a vatin der cellar of der old pickle factory."
"Ferris said nothing of this to me," said Hardwick.
"He was most scared stiff, dat feller was," replied Macklin,disdainfully. "I guess he t'ought he would not say nuthin' ter nobody."
During this time Hal had not said a word, but now he spoke up.
"What do you intend to do with me?" he asked.
"You'll see fast enough," replied Hardwick. "We have got you fast thistime. Do you know what I think? I think you are the same fellow that Imet in the lumber-yard."
"And if I am, Hardwick, what of it?"
"It will go so much the harder with you."
"Let us bind him so he cannot escape," said Allen. "He is a dangerousyoung man to have loose."
"There is a rope in the closet," said Parsons. "Bind him with that, ifyou want to."
The rope was speedily brought forth, and Hal was bound hands and feet.There was no use trying to escape, and consequently he did not undertaketo do so.
"Put him in the closet," ordered the broker, when the job of binding Halwas completed.
"Gag him first," cautioned Hardwick. "We don't want him to raise theroof, if he's left alone. We'll fix him later."
The gag was inserted in Hal's mouth, and then he was lifted up byMacklin and the others and dumped into the corner of the closet, and thedoor was closed and locked upon him.
From the closet, which was damp and cold, he could hear the confusedmurmur of voices, but could not make out a word of what was being said.The murmur continued fully half an hour, and then all became as silentas the grave.
Hal was all but suffocated by the rude gag which had been forced intohis mouth. All was dark, and his position was a painful one, not onlymentally, but bodily as well.
What the rogues intended to do with him he did not know. If only hecould free himself and get away!
With might and main he tugged at the rope which bound his hands. Atfirst it remained tight, but at last it loosened sufficiently to allowhim to slip out his right hand.
The left soon followed; and Hal's next work was to remove the gag fromhis mouth. What a relief it was to once more close his mouth!
His feet freed, the boy looked about for some means by which to escapefrom the closet. The door was locked, as has been mentioned, but it wasa poor affair, and Hal knew he could easily force it open with hisshoulder.
Before proceeding to this extremity, he listened intently. It must benear three o'clock, and he wondered if all the others had left.
Suddenly voices broke upon his ear, and he heard Hardwick and Macklinenter the rear office. By applying his ear to the key-hole Hal heardwhat was said. If they opened the closet door, he determined to make abold dash for liberty.
"How much is der in dis new ob?" Macklin asked.
"Two hundred dollars, if he never comes back."
"Den pass over der cash."
"I'll pay you after the job is done, Tommy."
"No yer don't. Dis is a cash-in-advance job."
"Can't you trust me?"
"I kin, but I ain't goin' ter."
"It's to your interest as much as ours to have him out of the way."
"Dat's all right, too, but its pay or no job, Hardwick."
"If I pay you now you may make a balk as you did before."
"No, dis will be a sure t'ing, I'll give yer me word."
"Then here you are."
A silence followed.
"Is that right?" asked Hardwick.
"Yes. But, remember, dis ain't part of dat t'ousand I'm ter have fer datudder work."
"I understand. Now, go for the coach, and I'll stay till you come back.It's getting dark, and the street is almost deserted."
"I will. Better lock der door, and don't unlock it again till yer hearfour knocks; see?"
"Yes."
Macklin at once went off, and Hal heard Hardwick lock the door after himas agreed, but the key was left in the lock.
By the conversation Hal knew it must be later than he had supposed.Under cover of the darkness Macklin was going to bring a coach to theplace. For what purpose?
In spite of his naturally brave spirit, Hal shivered. He was in thepower of a desperate set of men, and he had learned enough of theirsecrets to convict every one of them. They would not hesitate to doanything to escape their just deserts.
"I must fight for it," he muttered to himself, "and now is the best timeto do it."
He opened the closet door cautiously, and peeped out. Hardwick sat in aneasy-chair, smoking savagely, as if he were out of humor. No one elsewas in the place.
The office was heavily carpeted, so Hal made no noise as he stepped outof the closet. He had to pass within five feet of Hardwick, who sat withhis back half turned to the boy.
Hardly daring to breathe, Hal tiptoed his way past Hardwick and into theouter office, the door to which stood wide open. Here it was quite dark,and the boy saw through the window that it was again snowing heavily.
At last the door was reached, and his hand was upon the key, ready toturn it in the lock.
Suddenly, as if struck by an idea, Hardwick jumped to his feet and cameout. His intention was to examine something on one of the outer desks,and when he beheld Hal he stared at the youth in blank amazement.
"Where--where--" he began.
Without saying a word, Hal turned the key and caught hold of the latchof the door. Then, with something that sounded like the growl of a wildanimal, Hardwick pounced upon him.
"No, you don't!" he hissed. "You sha'n't escape this time. Come backhere!"
He caught Hal by the coat collar. The youth struggled, and then struckout with all force.
The blow landed on Hardwick's chin, and knocked his head back with suchforce that for the instant he let slip his grasp and Hal was free.
But before the plucky youth could open the door the man had him fastagain, and was punching him with all his might.
"I'll teach you a lesson!" he cried. "Take that! and that! You aresmart, but you are not smart enough for me!"
"Let go!" cried Hal.
But Hardwick continued to pound him. Then, in sheer desperation, Halclosed in and fought tooth and nail, as if his very life depended on it.
Hardwick was a heavy-built man, but he was no match for the youth, whoall his life had been used to hard labor, and whose muscles,consequently, were like steel. He struck Hal many times, but the youthsquirmed and twisted, and suddenly hit him a crack between the eyes thatmade him see stars.
"Oh!" he howled, and dropped back, while Hal, taking advantage of thisstroke of good luck, made another dash for the front door.
He opened the door, and was half-way out when Hardwick, realizing whatescape meant, leaped forward and caught him by the coat.
"Let go!" cried Hal, and with a jerk he tore away and started up thesteps leading to the street.
He had scarcely taken half a dozen steps when he ran full tilt intoMacklin, who had just driven up on the box of a closed coach.
"Wot's dis?" cried the tough. "Carson! no yer don't!"
He carried his whip in hi
s hand, and as he spoke he brought the buttdown on Hal's head with full force.
There was a strange flash of fire through Hal's brain, and then allbecame a dark blank.