by Roy J. Snell
CHAPTER VII THE UNHOLY FIVE
During the course of their conversation about the open fire in DrewLane's shack, Captain Burns took from his inside pocket a small packagewhich proved to be five photographs pasted securely upon a strip of stoutcloth in such a manner that they might be folded together in the form ofa small book. "Ever see any of these?" he said to Johnny after spreadingthem out upon his knee.
For a moment Johnny studied the pictures thoughtfully. Then he gave asudden start. "That," he exclaimed, pointing a trembling finger at thethird in the row, "is the man who sat beside me in the auction--who gotme to bid in that package!"
"Are you sure?" The Captain's tone was tense.
"Can't be a doubt about it. See that scar like a cross? Couldn't wellmiss that, could I? He's the one all right. And, though I could neverprove it, I'd swear he was the one who struck me from the dark.
"And, by all that's good!" Johnny sprang to his feet. "I'll get that man!See if I don't! No man can strike me from the shadows and get away withit!"
"Well, I guess that makes your friend Johnny here one of us. That right,Drew?" the Captain rumbled.
Drew Lane nodded his head.
"Sit down, son," said the Captain. "I'll tell you what those picturesmean. Drew here and Tom Howe carry those pictures with them always. Sodoes Joyce, though I don't know quite where--in her stocking perhaps."
Joyce smiled.
"We joke at times," the Captain went on, "but this affair is no joke.Those men are our assignment. They are to be our assignment until everyman of them is behind bars or in his grave. You may join us if you will."
"I will." Johnny's voice was low.
The Captain extended his hand as a solemn pledge.
"You have a right to know," he went on, "just what men you are after, andwhat they have done.
"They are hardened criminals, every one, public enemies of the worstsort. A little more than a month ago they sealed their fate--they killeda policeman, the finest copper that ever walked a beat."
For a time the Captain stared at the fire. "My boy," he said at last, ina different voice, "I'm going to take you with me somewhere, sometime.The finest little family you ever saw!" he rumbled low as if talking tohimself.
Then, with a sudden start, he repeated, "They killed a policeman. Ofcourse a policeman's no better than any other man. But with us there's anunwritten law that no officer shall go unavenged.
"That wasn't all they did, this unholy five. They went to a banker's homeat midnight and terrorized his family until morning. Man's wife was inill health. But of course--" The Captain's voice rumbled with scorn andhate. "Of course you couldn't expect these robbers to take note of alittle thing like that! What do they care for women and children?
"When morning came they took the man to his bank. They compelled him toopen the vault. They took the bank's securities, more than two hundredthousand dollars worth. Then, of course, they went away.
"By some oversight, the bank's insurance had been allowed to lapse.Because of this heavy loss the bank was forced to close its doors. It wasa working man's bank. Thousands of common folks lost their savings. Thesefive men--no doubt they had a fine time with the currency they took!
"But the bonds--" His voice rose again. "The bonds are hot. We've keptthem hot. They dare not sell them. And we'll get them back yet, see if wedon't!
"And those are the men we're after!" he added a moment later. "Are youstill with us?"
"More than ever!" Johnny's voice was husky.
Once again the Captain offered his hand. "You're a lad after my ownheart," he rumbled. "I've two places I want to show you, and I'm sureyou'll like them both."