rms."

"Naturally," Ned smiled.

"Promise to restore the papers and forever remain silent as to what you
have learned since you undertook this case, and you shall all go free,
with more money than you ever dreamed of having in your hands."

"You have not stated the case fully," Ned said, when the other
concluded, with a superior air. "You have not mentioned a certain
alleged diplomat. You want me to forget all that he has said and done in
the matter."

"Naturally. I said that you were to forget everything connected with the
case."

"I prefer," Ned replied, "to see you on the gallows for murder."

The other started violently.

"Then this is final?"

There came a sound resembling the report of firearms from the outer
room. At the same time Ned caught a movement behind the south wall of
the room. The gunman mentioned by the diplomat was evidently leaving his
post for the purpose of joining in any struggle which might be taking
place.

The boy thought fast for a moment. If the marines had fought their way
into the outer room they would soon be knocking at the rough door that
separated the two apartments. In that case the man before him would do
one of two things.

He would try to fight his way out of the room, or he would try to escape
by some exit not at that time in sight. In the first instance he might
wound or kill one or more of the marines. In the latter, he might be
able to conceal himself in some underground passage and finally escape.

It seemed to Ned that the one thing for him to do was to attack the
fellow and endeavor to disarm him. The noises of conflict in the outer
room grew more distinct, and Ned, observing that the diplomat was
glancing restlessly about, as if seeking some means of escape, sprang
upon him.

Instead of turning and defending himself, the fellow struggled to
release himself from the boy's hold, and to make his way toward a
section of the wall on the south. The statement that a rifleman had
been stationed somewhere there now came back to the boy's mind, and he
knew that there must be a passage behind that wall.

The man with whom Ned was struggling was evidently unarmed, for he
fought only with his hands and feet. He tried by all the tricks known
to wrestlers to break away from the boy, or to hurl him to the floor,
but Ned had skill as well as strength, and all such efforts proved
unavailing.

While this silent struggle was going on, the rough door came crashing in