When Don and the colonel swung around in consternation at the sound of the door opening they faced Major Tireson and the old man. There was a look of triumph on the face of the major, and the old man, standing just back of him with a candle in his hand had a slight smile on his otherwise expressionless face.

“So!” cried the major, as they jumped to their feet. “You two are together, it seems.”

The colonel recovered his presence of mind instantly. “Why, yes, we do seem to be together,” he remarked.

“And that boy was with you all day, eh?” questioned the major. “Where did you hide him?”

“I don’t remember, major,” said the colonel. “That happened this morning, and I can’t remember that far back.”
183

The major’s face darkened. “Trying to be funny, aren’t you, Elmer? It won’t do you any good. We knew that this boy did not get out of the building, and my keeper suspected that you had him with you. He crept up here and heard you talking, and then he told me just now that you were together. But you won’t be for long!”

“No, I suppose not,” the colonel retorted, bitterly.

The major strode up to Don. “I’ve had a lot of trouble with you, young man,” he snarled. “But I’m not going to have any more. Just as soon as we get through with the colonel we’ll take care of you.”

“Just as you please,” returned Don. “But I warn you that it will go hard with you if I once get away.”

“You won’t get away,” assured the major. He turned to the colonel. “You are going away, colonel.”

“Humph,” snorted the colonel. “I thought it was to be tomorrow night.”

“You are going tonight,” the major said. “We’ve had enough out of you, and we don’t propose to take any more. If you feel like telling us where those papers are on the way, all well and good, but if you don’t you’ll start on a long trip.”

“I prefer travelling to talking,” the colonel retorted briefly.

At that moment there came the sound of steps on the stairs and as the major and the old man did not turn with any degree of surprise the colonel and Don knew that enemies and not friends were approaching. This proved to be the case when two men entered the room and nodded to the major.

“Is the car here?” asked the major.
184

“Yes,” said one man. “It is waiting at the door. Are you ready to go?”

“Yes, he is ready,” nodded the major, pointing toward Morrell. “Take him down, and if he makes any noise just put him to sleep. We can’t afford to have anything happen now.”

“What about the boy?” asked the second man.

“We’ll leave him here for the time being. I haven’t decided yet what disposition will be made of him, but I’ll figure that out later. In the meantime, take the colonel to the place I told you about, and when I give you further orders he is to be taken out of the country.”

“All right, chief,” answered the first man, and he took the colonel by the arm. His companion took the colonel’s other arm.

“Goodbye, Mercer,” said the colonel. “We’ll get the best of these scoundrels yet.”

“I’m sure of it, colonel,” returned Don. “Take good care of yourself, sir.”

“You two have become very friendly in a short time, haven’t you?” sneered the major.

“Well, that’s bound to happen, major,” said Morrell slowly. “When two men get together they feel some sort of natural ties. Some day, if you ever become a man, you’ll know what I mean!”

The major raised his fist in a threatening attitude and Don sprang forward to the colonel’s defense. But the man who held the colonel’s right arm interposed.

“Here, cut that out! If you want to get this man away tonight, you had better start and fight later.”
185

Grumbling to himself the major left the room, followed by the colonel and his guards. Last of all went the old man, casting over his shoulder at Don a triumphant grin. Then he locked the door and Don was left alone, standing in the center of the floor in the circle of lamp light.

“They certainly put one over on us that time,” he muttered. “I never heard them come up the stairs. Now I wonder what the major will try and do with me?”

In the meantime the colonel was escorted down the stairs to the front door, where the big car stood in the drive, with the driver apparently asleep over the wheel. The door of the car was opened and the colonel was thrust inside, the men watching him closely to see that he did not raise any outcry. When he had been safely installed the major walked around to speak to the driver.

The man at the wheel had awakened and was now sitting and staring straight ahead, more than ever sunk in the fur of his coat and hat, his face in the shadows. He did not bother to turn when the major approached him.

“Drive with your lights off when you go out of here, Garry,” he said. “When they get the colonel at Denning’s place, you put your car up and go home. Do you understand?”

“Right!” growled the driver, his face in the fur.
186

The major walked back to the car door and spoke to the men inside. The driver looked right and left and then straight ahead. The door was slammed and the major stepped away from the car.

“Go ahead,” he commanded, in a low voice.

Vench reached down, released the brake and started the engine. He backed the car around in the driveway and sent it out of the school yard in low speed, keeping his lights low. It was not until he had rolled out onto the main highway that he switched them on again and picked up speed.

Inwardly, he thanked his lucky stars even while he wondered. He was glad that he had run with the hares on that day, and that he had run with his partner through Spotville Point. The other boys had told him of Dennings and his home at Spotville Point, and Vench knew that this place was to be his destination. He did not know where the house itself was but he did know where the town was. The location of the h............