re now speaking in a lower tone and he put his ear to the
keyhole, to catch what they might say. Then, of a sudden, the door
opened and he found himself confronted by Shelley.

"Thought I heard somebody in the hall!" cried that individual, and
grabbed Dick by the arm.

"Let go!" answered the youth and tried to break away. But Sobber came
to Shelley's assistance, and between them the two men dragged the boy
into the room and shut the door after him. Dick struggled vigorously
even when in the apartment until Sobber caught up an empty water
pitcher and flourished it over his head.

"Make another move and I'll knock you senseless with this!" he
exclaimed and the look on his face showed he meant what he said. Seeing
his captors were too powerful for him, Dick subsided and was forced
into a chair in a corner.

"Been listening to all our talk, I suppose," said Cuffer, uglily. He
was angry to think that Dick had been able to follow him after all.

"I have," was the youth's bold reply. He felt nothing was to be gained
by beating around the bush.

"It's a nice business to be in!"

"It is better than the business you are in."

"I don't think so."

"I do. You fellows are in league with Sid Merrick, and you know what
sort he is."

"See here," interrupted Shelley. "Now we have him in here, what are we
going to do with him?"

"You are going to let me out," said Dick.

"Perhaps we are," said Cuffer, and gave Shelley a significant look.

"Let us see if he's got any papers with him," suggested Shelley, and
returned the look given to him by his companion.

The look meant that they would go through Dick's pockets and rob him.
The men were thorough rascals and if the youth had anything worth
taking they meant to have it.

"You keep out of my pockets!" cried Dick and started to rise from the
chair in which he was sitting. Instantly both men grabbed him, and
while Cuffer held him tightly from the rear, Shelley caught up a towel
and gagged him. Then a bed sheet was used to tie Dick inside of a
closet in a corner of the room.

"Listen, I think somebody is coming!" cried Cuffer, in sudden alarm.

"Keep the boy quiet!" answered Shelley and ran to the hall door just as
a knock sounded upon it.

"What's the racket up here?" demanded the voice of the hotel clerk.

"Oh, we were only trying a vaudeville turn," answered Shelley, coolly.
"We have an engagement for next week."

"Well, stop that noise and don't break any of the f