Through the front door she went in the darkness, her screams stilled through fear that the dreaded beings would be guided by them; and, recovering her senses somewhat when she reached the street, she hurried in the direction of the Town Hall to acquaint Mr. and Mrs. Wagstaff with the awful goings-on at home.
Billy Waylett and Jim McGovern were on the watch, and the moment she vanished they entered through the rear door, which remained unlocked, and hastened up-stairs to the room where the gas was burning and from which Tom had signalled to them.
“Quick, fellers!” he said, as they burst into the apartment, “father will soon be back.”
“Where’s the rope?” asked Jim.
“There on the chair.”
“What’s that handkerchief for?”
“The money and jewelry is in it; tie me first and then hurry out with that, and take good care of it till to-morrow, when we will fix things; hurry up!”
Billy had the rope in hand, and both boys set to work to bind the young rogue to the bed-post. Since the victim gave all the aid he could, the task was completed with less delay and difficulty than would have been supposed.
This was due also to the preparations which Tom had made for the business. A strong bed-cord, cut in several pieces, was at hand. His wrists were bound together behind his back; then his ankles were joined, and finally the longest piece of rope was wound several times around his waist and made fast to the bed-post. This rendered him helpless, and he could not have released himself had his life been at stake.
But the shrewd boy knew that something more must be done. Though tied securely, his mouth was at command, and it was to be expected that he would use his voice with the fullest power the moment his captors left him alone.
But with all the cunning displayed by Tom, and with all his perfect preparations in other respects, and after having referred to the necessity of the gagging operation, he had forgotten to be ready for it.
“What shall we put in your mouth?” asked Jim, pausing and looking round after the binding was finished.
“Golly! I forgot all about that,” was the reply.
Billy darted to the bureau and caught up a large hair-brush.
“How’ll this do?” he asked, holding it up to view.
“It won’t do at all,” was the disgusted reply; “it’s too big for my mouth.”
“I don’t know ’bout that; you’ve got the biggest mouth in school.”
“We’ll take a sheet off the bed,” said Jim, beginning to tug at the coverlets.
“What’s the matter with you?” asked Tom; “do you think you can cram a whole sheet in my mouth?”
“Why not?”
“’Cause you can’t; that’s the reason.”
“I have it,” exclaimed Billy, running to the corner of the room and catching up a porcelain cuspidor; “this will just fit. Open your mouth, Tom, and give me a chance.”
But at this juncture, when the perplexity threatened to upset everything, Billy Waylett solved the difficulty by whisking out his linen pocket-handkerchief.
“Now you’re talking,” remarked the pleased Tom; “why didn’t we think of that before?”
It was curious, indeed, that they did not, and it was curious, too, in view of the cunning shown in other directions, that all three forgot a precaution which ought to have occurred to them.
A handkerchief was just the thing to be used to seal the mouth of the victim, but it should have come from the pocket of Tom Wagstaff instead of from Billy Waylett’s.
Perhaps had the boys felt that abundance of time was at command, they would have thought of this necessity; but they were well aware that Maggie, the servant, was making good speed to the Town Hall, and that Mr. Wagstaff would not let the grass grow under his feet on his way home. Besides, too, the screams of the girl were likely to bring others to the spot before the coming of the owner of the house. The boys, therefore, had not a minute to throw away, and they did not idle their time.
The twisted handkerchief was pushed between the open jaws of the victim, like the bit in a horse’s mouth, and then knotted and tied behind his head. Billy, who took charge of this little job, was not over-gentle, and more than once the victim protested. Little heed, however, was paid to him, and his words were but feeble mumblings when sifted through the meshes of the handkerchief.
“There! I guess that’ll do,” said Billy, stepping back and surveying his work; “how do you feel, Tommy?”
The latter nodded his head, mumbled, and tried to speak. He was urging them to leave, but his words were unintelligible.
Meanwhile Jim had picked up the other handkerchief, tied at the corners, and was surprised to find how heavy it was. It contained much valuable property.
The boys were reminded of their remissness by the sound of voices on the outside. Neighbors were at hand.
“We’re caught; it’s too late; what shall we do?” gasped Jim, dropping the handkerchief with its precious contents.
“They will hang us for bigamy,” replied Billy, turning pale and trembling in every limb.
Tom Wagstaff tried hard to utter a few words, and was struggling to free himself, but succeeded in neither attempt.
“Come on!” whispered Jim, catching up his load again; “they haven’t got in, and we may have a chance.”
He whisked through the open door, and scurried down the carpeted stairs, with Billy so close on his heels that both narrowly escaped bumping and rolling to the bottom.
The voices were louder, and it looked as if the youngsters were caught.
And such would have been the case, but for the timidity of the parties out-doors. They had been drawn thither by the out-cries of the servant, and were convinced that some fearful tragedy was going on, or had been completed within the dwelling.
These people were unarmed, and it was only natural that they should shrink from entering where several desperate men were supposed to be at bay. They consulted with each other and decided to await the arrival of re-enforcements.
This was the golden opportunity of the young scamps. The rear door was ajar and they noiselessly drew it inward far enough to allow them to pass through.
Before venturing forth they peeped out in the darkness. They could see nothing, though, for that matter, there might have been a dozen persons within a few feet without being visible; but the room in which the lads stood was also without a light, so that the advantage was equal.
The sound of the voices showed that the new arrivals were at the front, and the way was open for the flight of the amateur burglars, who still hesitated, afraid that men were lying in wait to nab them.
More than likely they would have tarried too long, but for a movement on the part of the newcomers. They were increasing so fast that they became courageous, and one of them pushed open the front door.
The creaking of its hinges and the tramping in the adjoining room spurred Jim and Billy, who hesitated no longer. Through the door they stole on tip-toe, and a few steps took them across the porch to the soft ground, where the soft earth gave back no sound. The trees, too, seemed to spread their protecting branches over them, and inspired them with such courage that, after hurrying a few rods, they came to a stop and looked back and listened.
“By George! that was the luckiest thing that ever happened to us!” whispered Jim McGovern, with a sigh of relief.
“That’s so,” assented his companion; “I thought we was goners sure, and we come mighty nigh it.”
“I wonder whether that