on a bold
front. "I want money from both of yer; see?"

"How much?" asked Allen.

"A t'ousand dollars."

"You are crazy!" cried the broker.

"No I ain't. I mean just wot I say, Allen. I want five hundred from you,
an' der udder from Hardwick."

"Supposing we won't pay it?"

"Den I'll tell der police wot I know; I ain't doin' yer work fer
nothin'."

And the tough poked his nose close to that of Caleb Allen.

"Nonsense, Tommy!" put in Hardwick. "I agreed to give you a hundred
dollars for keeping quiet about what you know, and that's all you'll
get."

"Den I'll--wot's dat?"

A loud noise in the outer office startled Macklin. Hal, listening at the
door, suddenly found himself in the hands of Parsons and Samuels.

"A spy, as I thought," cried Samuels. "Hardwick! Allen!"

The two called, rushed out, and Hal was surrounded.

"A spy, is he?" cried Allen. "Who can----"

"That beard is false!" exclaimed Hardwick, tearing it as well as the
mustache from our hero's face. "Hal Carson! Boys, lock the front door!
If he escapes, we shall be ruined!"

CHAPTER XXVIII.

HAL IS EXPOSED.

The moment that Hardwick made his announcement, Parsons sprang to the
front door and locked it.

"Carson!" muttered Allen. "Hardwick, you were right, he is nothing more
nor 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 to
der--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 knocked
him down. I t'ought he was dead, an' me an' Ferris chucked him in a vat
in 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 this
time. Do you know what I think? I think you are the same fellow that I
met in the lumber-yard."

"And if I am, Hardwick, what of it?"

"It will go