CHAPTER XVIII.
HAL IN A TIGHT SITUATION.
Before Dick Ferris could say a word or move, Macklin clapped his handover the tall boy's mouth.
"Hush!" he muttered. "I'll fix it all right."
A square table stood in one corner of the room, and under it was aquantity of old bagging.
Macklin seized hold of Hal's body and dragged it toward the table.
Then he shoved the motionless form under the piece of furniture andcovered it with the loose bagging.
The key to the door lay on the floor, and picking it up, Macklininserted it in the lock and gave it a turn.
In a second the door was opened and a stout and harsh-looking womanappeared.
It was Tommy Macklin's wife.
She was a heavy drinker, but she was not a really bad woman at heart.
Had she been as unscrupulous as Macklin himself, the tough would neverhave pursued the course he did.
Before the woman could enter the room he met her and cut her short.
"I want you to go upstairs," he said, taking the market basket shecarried from her.
She looked surprised.
"What for?"
"There was a sneak-thief around, and I want you to see if Mary lostanything."
"A thief? Did he get----"
"No, I didn't give him the chance."
The woman at once turned and went up the flight of stairs leading to thetop floor. She had not seen Ferris, and the tall boy breathed a sigh ofrelief as he turned to listen to what Macklin had to say.
"We've got a good chance ter git him out o' der way."
"Out of the way?" whispered Ferris.
"Dat's wot I said."
"You don't mean----"
Ferris stopped short.
"Yes, I do. You say he's an enemy ter you an' Hardwick?"
"He is that."
"Den I'd git him outer der way."
Ferris' lip twitched.
"What would you do with him?"
"I'll show yer." Macklin scratched his matted hair. "Give me dat potatobag in der closet."
Ferris hesitated, and then, opening the closet in the corner, broughtforth an unusually long potato sack.
Raising up the top part of Hal's body, Macklin slipped the sack overhead and shoulders. Then he tied the string of the sack fast aroundHal's waist.
The tough opened the door and passed out into the hall way.
No one was in sight. Macklin returned to the room.
"Quick, catch him by der legs," he said to Ferris. "I'll take him by dershoulders, an' we'll have him outer sight in a jiffy."
"Where--where will you take him?" faltered Ferris. His teeth werechattering, and his face was as pale as death.
"I'll show yer. Catch hold."
Macklin's tones were angry ones, and Ferris complied. With the body ofHal between them, the pair passed down one flight of stairs, and then toa narrow stairway in the rear leading to a dirty wash-shed.
"Wait here wid him till I come back," said Macklin, and he darted out ofthe wash-shed door.
Ferris stood beside Hal's body. Presently he thought he heard a lowmoan, and he imagined that Hal moved one arm. His teeth chattered worsethan ever, and it was all he could do to keep from rushing away.
At length, after what seemed to be an age, but which was really lessthan five minutes, Macklin reappeared.
"We've got der boss chance!" he exclaimed, in a low tone. "Chuck datpiece of rag carpet over him. Dat's it. Now pick him up ag'in."
Once more the two took up Hal's body. Their course was now through thecourt and into a narrow lane. Here the snow was piled high, but neitherseemed to mind it.
"Here we are."
It was Macklin who spoke. He stood at the basement door of an old stonestructure which in years gone by had been a vinegar and pickle factory.Pushing open the door, he motioned to Ferris, and Hal's body was takeninside and the door once more closed.
"Wait till I strike a light," said Macklin.
"What is this place?" asked Ferris.
"It's a factory wot ain't in use," was the reply. "His body won't befound here for two or t'ree months, if da finds it at all."
Macklin struck a match and lit a bit of dirty tallow candle which hecarried.
"See dat big hole in der floor over dare?" he asked.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Sum kind of a vat, I t'ink. Dat's der place. Hold der glim, will yer?"
Ferris took the candle. His hand shook so that the tallow dropped allover it.
"Wot's der matter wid yer nerves?" asked Macklin, sarcastically.
"Nothing," returned the tall boy, briefly.
"Yer shakin' like a leaf."
"I am cold."
And for once Ferris told the truth. An icy chill seemed to have struckhis heart.
Catching hold of Hal's body, Macklin dragged it to the edge of the vat.There was a slight scraping sound as the body was pushed over the edgeof the hole, and then all became quiet.
"Dat settles it," said Macklin. "Come on back."
And Hal was left to his fate.
The Missing Tin Box; Or, The Stolen Railroad Bonds Page 18