"Supposing I should pull out my pistol?"

"You won't dare to do so."

"And pray why? How do I know but what you are not a footpad?" cried
Hardwick, getting angry at Hal's apparent coolness.

"Because a shot might bring others to the spot," said the youth,
bravely.

"No one is around."

"You forget that in New York detectives often travel in pairs."

It was a random remark, but it told. Hardwick turned pale, and shifted
uneasily.

"You're a cool customer," he said, eyeing Hal sharply.

"Detectives have to be cool."

"You won't gain anything by following me."

"I haven't said that I was following you."

"But you have admitted that you are a detective, and that amounts to the
same thing."

"Perhaps it does and perhaps it doesn't."

As Hal spoke, he looked around for Dick Ferris. The tall youth was
nowhere to be seen.

"What are you looking for?"

"That's my business."

"Come, don't get cheeky."

"Then don't question me."

Hardwick's eyes flashed fire. A dark look of hatred came into his face,
and he made a spring forward.

"I'll teach you a lesson," he hissed.

"Stand back!" cried Hal. "Stand back, or take the consequence!"

Hardly had Hal spoken the words when a sudden shadow caused him to
glance upward.

It was well that he did so.

On a large pile of lumber stood Dick Ferris, and in his hands he held a
heavy beam, which he was just on the point of letting fall upon Hal's
head.

The boy had barely time enough to spring to one side when with a boom
the beam came down and buried itself in the snow.

"You mean coward!" cried the youth. "Wait till I catch you!"

He made a dash to the side of the pile, which was arranged like steps,
intending to mount to where Ferris stood.

As he did so, Hardwick shouted something to the tall boy, and then
leaped the fence of the lumber-yard, and ran out on the side street.

Ferris could not see Hal now, but he understood what Hardwick said, and
as Hal mounted to the top of the pile the tall boy got down and let
himself drop off the edge.

He landed in the deep snow, and was not hurt in the least. Before Hal
could discover his flight, he was over the fence and on his way to join
Hardwick.

It took Hal but a minute to learn of the direction the two escaping
evil-doers had taken, and then he made after them with all possible
speed.

But the pursuit was a useless one, and at the end of several blocks Hal
gave it up, and dropped into a walk.

What