Walter Sherwood's Probation

“That’s so,” he said. “Do you want your wallet back?”

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll make a bargain. Give me that revolver, promise not to raise the house, and I will give you back your wallet.”

“With all the money inside?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I will,” said Manning, after a pause.

“Don’t be a fool! Come, be quick, or the boy will wake up.”

“He is awake already,” said Walter, raising his head from the pillow.

“Were you awake when I entered the room?” asked Dick Ranney, quickly.

“Yes.”

“Fooled again!” exclaimed Ranney, bitterly. “Boy, I believe you are my evil genius. Till I met you, I thought myself a match for any one.”

“You were more than a match for me,” said Manning, “but he wins best who wins last.”

“Well, what do you mean to do?” asked Ranney, doggedly.

“To capture you, Dick Ranney, and hand you over to the law which you have so persistently violated.”

“That you will never do,” said Ranney, and he dashed toward the window, thrusting Manning to one side.

But what he saw increased his dismay. The ladder had been removed, and if he would leave the room he must leap to the ground, a distance of over twenty feet.

“Confusion!” he exclaimed. “The ladder is gone!”

“Yes, I directed the stable-boy to keep awake and remove it,” explained Manning.

“I may be taken, but I will be revenged first,” shouted Dick Ranney, and he flung himself on Manning, who, unprepared for the sudden attack, sank to the floor, with Ranney on top. But the outlaw’s triumph was short-lived. Walter sprang to Manning’s rescue, seized the revolver, and, aiming it at the burglar, cried quickly:

“Get up, or I’ll fire!”

Dick Ranney rose sullenly. He paid Walter the compliment of believing he meant what he said.

“It’s your turn, boy,” he muttered.

“Stay where you are!” ordered Walter, and he walked slowly backward, still covering the robber with the revolver, till he reached the door opening into the entry.

Dick Ranney watched him closely, and did not offer any opposition, for it occurred to him that the opening of the door would afford him a better chance for flight.

No sooner, therefore, was the door open than he prepared to avail himself of the opportunity, running the risk of a bullet wound, when his plans were frustrated by the entrance of two village constables—strong, sturdy men.

“Dick Ranney, do you surrender?” asked Walter, in a clear, resolute tone.

Ranney looked slowly from one to the other and calculated the chances. The ladder was gone and he found himself facing four foes, three of them strong men, some of them armed.

“It’s all up with me!” he said quietly. “I surrender.”

“You do wisely,” remarked Manning. “Now, will you restore my wallet?”

The outlaw took it out of his pocket and handed it over.

“There it is,” he said. “I suppose you won’t me to pay interest for the use of the money.”

The two constables advanced, and one of them took out a pair of handcuffs.

“Hold out your hands!” he said.

The burglar did so. He saw that opposition would not benefit him, and he yielded to the inevitable with a good grace.

“It seems I walked into a trap,” he said. “If you don’t mind telling me, were you expecting me?”

“Yes,” answered Walter.

“Did the boy betray me?” he asked quickly.

“No; the boy suspected nothing wrong, but his questions excited suspicion.”

“Dick Ranney,” said the outlaw, apostrophizing himself, “you’re a fool! I should like to kick you!”

“I think you were imprudent, Mr. Ranney,” said Manning,

“It was this revolver that undid me,” said Ranney. “I wanted to recover it, for it was given me by my old captain. It was never out of my possession till that boy snatched it from me. I suppose it was to be,” and he sighed, comforted, perhaps, by the thought that it would have been useless to struggle against fate.

CHAPTER XXVII

WALTER BECOMES A CAPITALIST

Professor Robinson slumbered on, blissfully unconscious of the events that had made the night an exciting one. When he came downstairs early in the morning he strayed accidentally into the room where Dick Ranney was confined under guard. Being short-sighted, he did not see the captive until Ranney hailed him.

“Good morning, professor!”

The professor skipped nimbly back and gazed at the prisoner in alarm.

“You here?” he exclaimed.

“Yes,” answered Dick, grimly.

“But how did it happen?”

“I came to the hotel a little after midnight to make you a call, but went first to the room of your assistant.”