sin. The woman was Mrs. Sobber beyond a doubt.

"If they leave the girls in that room and alone--with that window
unlocked----" began Dick.

"The woman may stay with them," interrupted Tom.

"Get back--somebody is coming!" whispered Sam, and dragged his brothers
down, behind some rose bushes.

Two persons were coming out of the old mansion. One carried a lantern
and what looked to be some bed slats and the other a ladder. They were
Tad Sobber and Jerry Koswell.

"Do you think the ladder is long enough?" they heard Koswell ask.

"I guess so--I'll soon see," answered Tad Sobber.

The pair walked around to the side of the house and the ladder was
placed in position under the window of the room the boys had been
watching. Then Sobber went up with the slats, and some nails and a
hammer, and commenced to nail the slats across the window.

"He's going to make a regular prison cell of the room!" whispered Tom.
"Oh, if only I dared to run in and yank that ladder from under him!" he
added, with grim humor.

"Hush, or they'll hear you," warned Dick. "I am glad to see this," he
went on, in a low whisper. "It shows that they think they haven't been
followed and are safe. Now to get to the nearest town, notify the
authorities, and bag the bunch of them!"

"If we could only get some word to the girls," murmured Tom.

"Yes, Tom, that would be very nice. But we can't afford to take the
chance. If some of those rascals get away, sooner or later they'll make
more trouble for us."

"I know that."

"I think one of us might remain here on guard, while the others go to
town for help."

"How are you going to get to town?"

"I've got a plan for that," and Dick smiled faintly. "I'll make our
friend, the chauffeur, do us a good turn."

"What, will you go in that touring car?" cried Sam.

"Why not? It's a big, roomy car, and can carry a lot of officers of the
law. And we know it can make speed."

"All right, Dick, go ahead. I guess you know the right thing to do."

After a few words, it was decided that Tom should remain on guard while
Dick and Sam went for assistance. Dick cautioned Tom not to show
himself.

"If you do, you may spoil everything," said he.

"All right, I'll lay low," answered Tom, "that is, unless I find out
that the girls actually need me," he added. "I won't stand it if that
old woman, or Crabtree, illtreats them."

"No, if they try that, sail in and do what you can to save them," said
Dick.