orable," Ned thought, "he may not
return here at all. I should have instructed him to leave the room by
the main stairway, if possible, and return to the marines. It would
look comfortable, just now, to see that file of bluecoats marching into
the telegraph office."

However, there was now no help for the omission, and Ned waited with
varying emotions for some sign from the window. None came, but
presently the door of the rear room was opened and the detective
blustered in.

"Where is the other prisoner?" he demanded, looking keenly about the
room. "He was here not long ago. Where is he?"

"Didn't you see him crowd out with the marine officer?" asked Ned.

"He was here after that fellow left," was the reply. "But he can't
escape from the building," he added, "for every avenue is guarded, and
the chap the cablegram belongs to has just asked for it!"

CHAPTER IX

TRICKS THAT WERE VAIN

Ned eyed the bullying detective keenly. He did not believe that the
cablegram had been demanded by another. That was only a pretext on the
part of his enemies to make their attitude of delay appear more
reasonable. If, as was claimed, the message was now claimed by two, the
holders would certainly be justified in using great caution in
delivering it.

He did not believe, either, that the telegraph officials had been nervy
enough to resort to police protection. That would be to bring the
matter into the courts, and he did not think those who were opposing him
would care for that.

"You are not telling the truth," he said, coolly, to the detective. "No
one here could honestly claim the message, because no one in Tientsin,
previous to my arrival, knew there was such a message here, if I except
the telegraph people and the man who sent it. If a claimant has shown
up, he is acting under instructions from you."

"You are deceiving yourself!" snarled the other.

"Where is Captain Martin, of the marines?" asked Ned, not caring to
dispute the point. "If you have arrested him, you'll be having his men
after you before morning."

"You mean the men you left in the cornfield?"

"Certainly, the United States marines."

"Then you don't know that they have gone back to Taku?"

"No; neither do you," replied Ned. This was too cheap!

"But, they have," insisted the detective. "At least, they have
disappeared from the camp in the cornfield."

"You seem pretty well posted as to our doings," said the boy.

"We are pre