rtly
Italian. The man grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Whadda you do-a here?" demanded the man, "me thinka you one-a da
sneak-a da tief."

"Let me go," demanded Jack, striving to wrench himself free.

"I no leta you go justa yet. I tinka you here steala da tings," cried
the man in a loud voice.

The talk inside Judson's room broke off suddenly.

"Hullo, what's up outside?" exclaimed Donald. "Somebody's collared a
thief. Let's see what it's all about."

He flung the door open and the lamplight streamed out full on Jack's
face.

Donald fell back a pace with astonishment.

"Great Scott! It's Jack Ready," he exclaimed. "What in the world are you
doing here?"

"You knowa desa boy?" asked the Italian, still holding Jack fast.

"Yes, I do. He's no good," replied Donald.

"Dena I throwa him out or calla da police."

"Yes--no, for goodness' sake, not the police," exclaimed Donald. "Dad,
Jarrow, here's that Ready kid spying on us. He was caught in the hall by
that Italian next door, who thought he was a sneak thief."

"Ha! Ready, you are the most unlucky lad I know," cried Judson, coming
to the door, "we've got you just where we want you this time. There are
no chimneys here. Bring him inside."

"Not much! Help!" Jack began to shout, but Jarrow clapped a hand over
his mouth.

"Help us run him in here," he ordered the Italian, "I'll pay you for
it."

"Whatsa da mat'?" asked the Italian suspiciously. "He no lika you."

"No wonder. He robbed us once. I guess he was here to do it again. We
want to settle accounts with him."

"Oh-ho, datsa eet ees it?" said the Italian. "All righta, I no make da
troub'."

He gave Jack a forward shove into the room of the wireless boy's
enemies.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IN THE POWER OF THE ENEMY.

As soon as the door was shut and locked, Judson faced Jack.

"Now you keep quiet if you don't want a rap over the head with this," he
said, exhibiting a heavy bludgeon.

"Don't dare touch me," spoke Jack boldly.

"That will depend. I want to ask you some questions. Will you answer
them?"

"I shall see."

"You followed Donald and me here and were spying on us when that Italian
caught you."

"A good thing he did," interjected Donald.

"You heard us planning--er--er something?"

"Possibly I did."

"Boy, I know you did."

"Then what's the sense of asking me?"

"None of your impudence, young man! You've always been too much of a
busy-body for your own good," snarled J