nd the robe about the upper part of the man's
body, fastening his arms to his side as effectively as if he had
been placed in a straightjacket. Then he took the man's belt and
secured his feet in the same way he had tied up those of the other
man. Marsh next took the men's handkerchiefs and two of his own.
Stuffing one into each man's mouth, and tying another around his
head, Marsh effectually gagged them into silence.

"Now," he said to Nels, "we'll lay these two fellows out of sight in
the underbrush."

When this was accomplished he instructed Nels to follow him, and
they cautiously approached the house. As they crossed the lawn,
Marsh heard rapid footsteps ahead, followed by the opening of the
house door. He immediately dashed in pursuit. In the hall he paused
to listen for sounds that would indicate the direction the man had
taken. He heard the clicking of a telephone receiver hook and a
voice calling, "Hello! Hello!" Leaping through an arched and
curtained doorway at his left, Marsh discovered a dim light in a
connecting room, and darted to the doorway, drawing his automatic
and transferring it to his right hand as he ran. He found himself in
the library of the house, and in one corner he saw the driver of the
car with a telephone in his hands.

"Drop that phone!" called Marsh, leveling his automatic.

Ignoring Marsh's command, the man hastily gave a number to the
operator. It was quite clear what was happening. This man, returning
from his fruitless quest at the station, had witnessed the capture
of his companions. He was now endeavoring to warn some person;
probably the principal, who was the man Marsh particularly wanted.
There was no time for argument, so Marsh fired.

The man dropped the telephone and stumbled forward in a heap on the
floor. Marsh dashed across the room and replaced the receiver on its
hook, hoping that the connection had not been made in time for the
man at the other end of the wire to hear the shot. Though the man
had fallen, Marsh knew that he had nothing worse than a flesh wound
in the arm, because he was sure of his aim. He tied the man's hand
with a handkerchief, and his feet with his belt, and left him on the
floor. Turning quickly to Nels, who had followed him into the room,
and now stood watching, he handed the Swede the captured automatic,
saying, "Do you know how to use it?"

"Ya, Aye know;" was the smiling reply.

"All right," said Marsh. "I'm going to search the house. Fo