e.

"Guess they must have gone up there," the lad muttered.

He moved up the steps just as Lord Hastings and Jack hove in sight
around the corner. They pulled up at Frank's side.

"Where did they go?" demanded Lord Hastings.

"I don't know," replied Frank, "unless they went in this house."

"We'll have a look," said Lord Hastings briefly, and mounted the steps.

Frank and Jack followed him.

Lord Hastings turned the knob and the door opened easily.

"Look out, sir," warned Frank. "They're liable to take a shot at you
from some place."

Lord Hastings did not reply, but issued orders rapidly.

"Frank, you take the rear door. If it's locked the chances are they are
in the house. Jack, hunt the door to the basement and stand guard there,
also keeping an eye on this door if possible. I'll try and round them
up."

The two lads nodded their understanding of these orders. Jack found a
door leading to the basement, in the hall, fortunately still in view of
the front door. Frank dashed to the rear of the house and found the back
door still locked.

"They must be in here, then," declared Lord Hastings.

He examined his revolver carefully and then, holding it ready for
instant use, entered the front room. There was no one there.

In vain Lord Hastings explored all the downstairs rooms. There was no
one to be found. He came again into the hall.

"Must be upstairs," he said to Jack as he passed him.

He mounted the stairs rapidly, though cautiously. In the first room he
entered he found nothing. The door of the second room was shut. Lord
Hastings laid a hand on the knob and turned it. The door opened easily
and Lord Hastings stepped over the threshold.

And even as he would have moved into the room a hand, gripping the
barrel of a revolver, was raised in the air and descended violently in
the direction of Lord Hastings' head. Fortunately the latter caught the
glint of steel and whirled in time to dodge the blow and grasp the arm
that delivered it. At the same time he shouted:

"Frank! Jack! Upstairs!"

Then he gave his entire attention to his foes, of whom he now found,
there were two. Lord Hastings recognized the man whose arm he grasped as
Davis. Blosberg, with levelled revolver, was circling about the
struggling figures, seeking an opportunity to shoot Lord Hastings
without wounding Davis.

With a mighty effort Lord Hastings lifted Davis clear of his feet and,
exerting tremendous strength, swung him around