rank was on top, and the Mexican was
pinned to the floor.

By this time the whole house was in commotion. Voices were calling, and
lights were beginning to gleam.

"This way!" cried Frank. "I have him!"

He heard a sound on the stairs behind him, and supposed some one was
rushing to his assistance. There was a patter of feet, and then the
smothering folds of a blanket were flung over his head, and he was
dragged backward to the floor, his hold on Felipe Jalisco being broken.

When Merry succeeded in flinging off the blanket, he found some one had
turned on all the lights of the house. He saw Mr. Hatch, Arthur, Carlos
Mendoza, and one or two servants near at hand. The front door stood wide
open.

"A thousand pardons!" cried Mendoza, in apparent consternation and
distress. "It was a sad mistake I made!"

"You flung that blanket over my head and dragged me off the fellow!"
said Merry. "You permitted him to escape!"

"A thousand pardons! I thought you were the other. I thought he had you
down. It was dark. I could not see."

"You deliberately aided him to escape."

"No, no; I swear I made a sad mistake--I swear it!"

"And lie when you take the oath!" retorted Frank, unable longer to
restrain his feelings toward the fellow. "Mr. Hatch, you have a snake in
your house, and there he is!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE POLICE RAID.

Felipe Jalisco made good his escape that night, thanks to the assistance
of his friend, Carlos Mendoza.

The following morning Frank swore out a warrant for the arrest of
Jalisco, and this he took with him in order to have it ready when the
proper time came.

He was determined to get back at the fellow without delay.

Believing Jalisco was stopping in New York, Frank gave a description of
him to the police, and set them on the lookout for the fellow. He
likewise told them that Jalisco might be found in company with Bantry
Hagan sooner or later.

Two days passed without the apprehension of the Mexican lad being made
or any trace of him discovered. On the forenoon of the third day Frank
suddenly came face to face with Bantry Hagan in front of the Vendome
Hotel, on Broadway.

The moment he saw Merry, the Irishman stopped, planting himself fairly
in Frank's path.

"Sure it's a word I'd like to have with you, young man," he growled,
frowning blackly.

"Well, I have little time to waste on you," retorted Merry.

"I want to know what you mean by it!" said the Irishman.

"By what