ame time Phil, reaching the bottom of the stairway, saw
something twinkle in the dirt at his feet. He picked it up.

"Here is the pistol he was trying to shoot me with, Billy. Don't let him
up while I feel for some cord I brought along."

Billy, standing astride the prostrate man, took the pistol, a small
affair. As the stranger groaned and moved Billy gave him another sharp
tap with the tubing that seemed to settle his hash, as the boys later
expressed it.

Fingering the weapon, Billy found that it was loaded, all except one
chamber. He looked up, saying:

"I bet a nickel against a cent that this is the same pistol that
shot--what's his name?--Horr."

Meantime Phil, having produced several cords that he had taken from the
tool box of the Six, proceeded to bind the stranger's wrists together
behind his back as he lay half stunned by Billy's attack. While so
doing, he stumbled against a heavy object that proved to be a cheap
suitcase, filled by something that rattled metallically as it was moved.
Having tied the man's wrists, they half carried him up the stairway,
through the back room and into the old office. Here Billy stood guard
armed with the tube and the pistol. This last they discovered was enough
like the one Billy had at home to be its mate. Also one chamber being
empty, Phil at once felt sure--with Worth--that they now held the very
weapon that had been fired at Horr, the supposed comrade of the man now
recovering his senses at their feet.

"Watch him close, Billy," cautioned Phil, "while I go below and get that
suitcase, and look around a little before we go back to Feeney's."

"Don't be uneasy, Phil. I'll watch him all right. Ain't I just getting
even for the way those two did me when they ran away with our car?"

While Phil was gone below the stranger, recovering his senses, and
seeing only a boy standing over him, looked up with cunning, yet
imploring eyes.

"Say, kid," he weakly began, "that was a bad blow you hit me. My head's
about to bust. You've tied my arms too tight. Please loose me. I won't
do anything."

"No, you won't! Not while I'm in sight! Remember how you and your pal,
who's been calling on you constantly, did for me when you caught me fast
asleep? Not much will you get away! Just bank on that, will you?"

"I mean all right, boy. 'Deed I do! Just came back here for a few things
that belong to us. Be a good boy. Turn me loose. I'll go with you all
right."

"No, you won't! We don'