e he made for either the electric line or
the railroad station. You beat it up there quick and see if you can
get him."

"All right," agreed the driver. "And you run down the road."

"Where do you get that stuff?" exclaimed the other, holding up his
manacled hands. "I'm no good with these bracelets on. It's all up to
you now. You're wasting time. Beat it!"

The driver started up the road at a run and Marsh listened to the
rapid beat of his footfalls until they disappeared in the distance.
Then he cautiously crept out of the bushes and approached the other
man. It was so dark that Marsh could barely make out the man's form
as it was outlined against the gray of one of the gateposts.
Consequently, the man did not discover him until Marsh's hand was on
his arm.

"That you, Wagner?" he gasped.

Marsh laughed. "Don't make me talk," he said. "I'm all out of breath
making that getaway your friend spoke of."

"Hell!" the other man groaned, expressively.

"It sure is--for you," replied Marsh. "Now, just lie down in the
road while I tie your feet."

The man turned to run, probably hoping to escape in the darkness.
Marsh's hand still gripped his arm and with a quick movement of his
foot, Marsh threw the man down; then unbuckled the belt around the
fellow's waist and proceeded to secure his feet with it. As Marsh
rose to a standing position a voice close at hand, said, "That'll be
all for you. Throw up your hands!"

Marsh did not move.

"I said, put up your hands," repeated the voice.

"They are up," replied Marsh, counting on the darkness.

"Don't kid me!" The speaker suddenly, flashed an electric pocket
lamp on Marsh. By its gleam Marsh saw the sparkle of a revolver and
wisely put his hands over his head.

The man was standing in front of thick shrubbery. At this moment,
Marsh saw, by the dim glow of the pocket lamp, two hands slip from
the shrubbery and close about the man's throat. The lamp and the
revolver fell to the ground as the man instinctively raised his own
hands to break the hold. But in the darkness Marsh heard his body
drop with a wheezing sigh.

CHAPTER XXI

THE CHIMNEY THAT WOULDN'T DRAW

Marsh stood for a moment in puzzled thought. Then he heard a
cheerful voice say, "Aye bane got him all right," and he recognized
his rescuer.

"Hold him for a minute," ordered Marsh, and he leaped over the pine
to the car, returning immediately with one of the robes. With Nels'
assistance Marsh wou