Part 14 (1/2)
”Sure we'll waits” repeated one of the pair
It was severalup al, boys,” he spoke, hastily ”But I'ht, ht to your friend, Winter--”
”Somers,” corrected the other sailor
Between the pair, some two minutes later, Jack Benson turned off a side street into an alleyway The houses down in this alley were dark Most of the little buildings here were occupied only in the dayti stores
”Don't mind the dark,” spoke one of the sailors, as he pushed open a door ”There's light enough on the second floor That's where you'll find your friend, Winter”
”Somers,” remonstrated the second sailor
On the dark stairway Jack Benson found himself suddenly attacked, not only by the sailor pair, but by at least two other men, as well
CHAPTER IX
BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED NEXT
”Oh, you--” Jack shot out, hoarsely, he felt hiht
”Go easy, ht!” chuckled one of the sailors, holding a big hand over the submarine boy's mouth, while another unseen assailant pinned Jack's hands at the wrists
Flare! A sudden glow of light illuht
”Jerusby!” howled one of the sailor pair, leaping to his feet
Instantly there was consternation a Benson was forgotten Freed froht had come from two bull's-eye police lanterns, held in the open doorway below
”There are the scoundrels, men! Grab them!” shouted a voice of authority
The speaker and two other men were in police uniforarb
In the excite one of the sailors headlong down the stairs But the submarine boy did not pause there His other fist, landed on the second sailor, sending him after the first
”Club their heads off, if any of 'ee
Two other men, not in sailors' unifor subht, beyond the blows that young Benson struck Cowed by the unexpected appearance of the law's force, the quartette of rascals surrendered There was a clicking of handcuffs
”Your chief thought I was crazy, or telling hihed Captain Jack Benson ”Now, I guess--”
”I am the Chief of police,” retorted the officer in authority ”I thought that, if anything such as you described were happening in Colfax, then I'd better coate But now, perhaps you can explain more than you did over the 'phone from the Somerset House?”
”I have the best of reasons,” Jack replied, ”for i that two of my friends have disappeared by the sahty anxious to find them as soon as possible”