ut why
we warned you?"

"We didn't have time," Scotty pointed out. "We had just arrived when
we got caught."

Brad Marbek's high voice was cold. "Do you think my coming here is
funny?"

Scotty's reply was equally cold. "You're not trying to kid anyone that
you tie up at this pier before unloading your fish just because you
want to be sociable, are you?"

Marbek took a step forward. Red Kelso's hand on his shoulder
restrained him. Rick held his breath, wondering if Scotty had said too
much.

"Okay, you snoopers," Red said. "You're goin' to take a nice long look
around, see? You're goin' to do exactly what we say, and you're goin'
to find out for yourselves just what's goin' on here. Now how do you
like that?"

"Fine," Rick said feebly. There didn't seem to be anything else to
say.

"Start at the house," Brad growled. "Get goin'."

On deck, Rick took a quick look around. Nothing had changed, nor was
anyone in sight. With Carrots' rifle at their backs, he and Scotty
marched to the side door of the hotel. Inside Red Kelso pointed at
another door. "Open it and go downstairs. Step on it, we haven't all
night."

Rick caught his breath. Why were they forcing them into the cellar? A
little fearfully, he went down the stairs as Red snapped on lights.

At the bottom of the steps, the three faced them. "Start lookin',"
Brad commanded. "Go on. Stick your noses in every corner. Get busy!"
He gave Scotty a shove that sent him staggering in the direction of
the coal cellars. Then Red Kelso gave Rick a hard push that landed him
on his knees.

The boy stood up again and looked around him uncertainly. "What do you
want us to do?"

"Look," Red snapped. "That's what you came for. Look in every blasted
corner until you're satisfied there's nothin' more to look for. Now
get goin'!"

And Rick and Scotty looked. Even though they knew now nothing would be
found in the old house, they had no choice. With the three hovering
over them they searched in corners, under stairs, in bins. They
sounded walls and rapped floors. As they passed through the kitchen,
four men were playing cards, evidently members of Brad's crew. They
inspected the butler's pantry and even the refrigerator, then they
were pushed on through the other first-floor rooms and up the stairs.

Rick was tired of the whole affair, but every time he hesitated, Brad
or Red gave him a headlong shove that kept him moving, and always
Carrots was behind with the rifle. W