hat just now," was the cool response.

"Oh, excuse me, of course not." The short fellow looked around, but failed
to catch sight of our hero. "Jack, how about a smoke?" he said to the
other short fellow.

"Strike a light," was the answer.

The words were evidently a secret signal, for hardly were they spoken when
one of the short men caught the westerner from behind and held his arms.

"Here, what's the meaning of this?" cried the man, in alarm.

"Keep still, old man, and we won't hurt you. Raise a row and you'll get
knocked out. Quick, Pete, with his diamond pin and that roll of bills in
his left pocket!"

At this command the man in front rushed in and caught hold of the man's
pin. Out it came in his hand, a beautiful affair, worth at least a hundred
dollars.

"Stop! stop!" yelled the westerner. "Police! police!"

"Shut up!" hissed the man who held him. "Pete, crack him over the head. We
can't afford to take any chances here."

Thus ordered, the man who held the diamond pin slipped it into his pocket.
Then he raised his heavy cane and started to do as bidden when Jerry
rushed at him.

"Stop! Don't hit that man!"

The rascal was surprised.

"Who are you? Oh, it's only a boy. Clear out of here!"

"I won't! You let that man alone."

"Don't leave me," pleaded the victim. "They want to rob me. He has my
diamond pin!"

"Shut up!" howled the man in the rear. "Crack him, Pete, and crack the
boy, too."

Once more the heavy cane was raised. Our hero caught it in the center, and
by a dexterous twist wrenched it from the rascal's hand.

With a howl of baffled rage the rascal turned and caught Jerry by the
throat.

"Give me that stick, boy, or I'll choke the life out of you!" he hissed
into the youth's ear.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

JERRY HEARS AN ASTONISHING STATEMENT.

When the footpad, for the fellow was nothing less, attacked Jerry, our
hero felt that he had a tough struggle before him.

The rascal's grasp on the young oarsman's throat was light, however, and
Jerry quickly shook it off.

In the meantime the westerner began to struggle and shout at the top of
his voice:

"Help! Police! police!"

In vain the fellow who held him tried to stop his cries. They grew louder,
and soon footsteps were heard approaching.

Jerry received a savage blow on the chest and struck out in return,
hitting the footpad in the chin. Then the two clinched, and both rolled to
the pavement.

Jerry's assailant was a s