clear-eyed, level-headed Eph Somers
would go into any of the low drinking resorts of the town; but he
thought it best not to ask any questions until he found young Somers.

After some two minutes of brisk walking the two sailors turned down into
an alleyway.

"The place we're going to is dark on the ground floor," stated one of
them. "Don't be afraid to go up a dark stairway, messmate. We'll be
with you, anyway."

"I don't believe I'm afraid, thank you," smiled Hal.

One of the sailors, stepping ahead, pushed door open, going in first.
Hal followed, the other sailor bringing up the rear.

Then, like a flash, Hal Hastings felt him self seized on that dark
stairway, and a big hand held over his mouth.

Like a tiger Hal fought for a few moments. As nearly as he could judge,
in the dark, he had four assailants. He was overborne, at last gagged
and tied.

In the meantime Jack and Mr. Radwin had gone to the hotel dining room,
to find that the last diners had departed, leaving only a few waiters
who were arranging tables.

"No one here," murmured Radwin "Then we'll look through the billiard
room, writing room and other places. Young Somers must be with the
party somewhere."

Twenty minutes or more they spent in looking through the various public
parts of the big hotel. Then they returned to the lobby. Radwin was
limping, now, and looked uncomfortable.

"What's the matter?" questioned Jack.

"A nail in my shoe hurts me," lied the other, glibly, sinking into a
chair. "Benson, I reckon I'll sit here a few minutes. Then I'll get to
my room and call a bell-boy, to see if he can find some one to fix the
shoe."

"Too bad," murmured Jack. "But say, I'll go back to the corner, and
tell Hal, so he won't be standing on the corner all night."

With that Jack Benson walked briskly out. Up at the next corner,
however, instead of finding Hal, the young skipper was accosted by two
sailors in United States naval uniform.

"I reckon your name's Benson, messmate?" hailed one of the pair.

"I reckon it is," nodded Jack, looking sharply at them.

"Got a bit of bad news for you, then," added the first speaker. "It
ain't so awful bad, though. One of your friends--Winter, I think his
name was--"

"No; Somers," corrected the other sailor.

"Well, he saw a row going on, and he had to run down the street and get
into it. Too many fellers in the fight, and Winter--"

"Somers," interposed the second sailor.

"Yes;