Part 26 (2/2)
”We can't do that alone.”
”No, we must get Burt and Dave!”
Quietly the girls hurried back. The boys were eager to help.
”Tell us what to do.”
”Capture that man,” Bess whispered.
The four quietly approached the fountain. Bartescue was standing there, studying a sheet of paper in his hand. They heard him mutter something, then he crumpled the paper and hurled it angrily into the pool.
”Now's our chance!” Burt whispered.
Stealthily the boys moved forward. There was bright moonlight. Suddenly Bartescue turned his head. Sensing the boys' intent, he gave a cry of alarm and fled toward the caddy house.
”Don't let him get away!” Dave cried as the young people gave chase.
Burt, who was a champion sprinter on the Emerson College track team, soon overtook the man and threw him to the ground. The others closed in so the prisoner could not escape.
”What's the meaning of this outrage?” Barty demanded, furious. ”Let me up.”
”We'll release you when the police come,” Dave retorted grimly. ”You low-down forger!”
”I've never forged anything in my life,” Bartescue denied in a rasping tone. Burt and Dave soon discovered that it was not easy to keep the strong and agile man pinned to the ground.
George glanced quickly toward the caddy house. Inspired by a sudden thought, she asked Burt for the keys he had found and ran to the locked door to try them. One fit perfectly and she was able to unlock the door.
Bartescue was thrust inside and the door securely locked again. Burt and Dave said they would stand guard while the girls ran back to the hotel to notify the officials.
”Don't let him get away!” Dave cried
”Let me out of here!” Barty yelled at the top of his lungs, pounding savagely on the door. ”You have no right to do this!”
In the meantime Bess and George had reached the hotel. Greatly excited, they hurried to the manager's office and burst in upon him.
”Come quickly!” George cried. ”We've captured your forger!”
”What!” the manager demanded incredulously. ”You've caught the man?”
”Yes, we have him-in the caddy house! Follow us.”
Bess and George were glowing with pride by the time they came to it. There was not a sound within. Apparently Bartescue had decided that it was useless to try convincing the boys of his innocence. Bess unlocked the door and the manager cautiously peered inside.
”Come out of there, you!” he ordered sharply.
Disheveled, Bartescue haughtily emerged from the building. He glared at Bess and George, then cast an accusing glance at the hotel manager.
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