“You will tote two aces, you sneakin’ crook!” growled the lad, touching the wounded man contemptuously with his foot. “Next time maybe I won’t shoot so low!”
Ruth turned back into the room. Her hands were clenched, her mouth felt dry.
It took only a glance to show her that both Rumph and Charlie Reid were in the hands of Boardman and his men.
She rushed over to Tom. He had struggled to a sitting position and was trying to spit out the filthy rag that gagged him.
With the aid of Boardman’s knife, Ruth freed him.
“Tom, what have they done to you? Are you hurt? Oh, Tom!”
“I’m all right,” said Tom thickly, his tongue swollen and cracked. “Get the—films——”
“The films!” gasped Ruth. “Where, Tom?”
Tom nodded toward the farther end of the room.
“Trapdoor,” he muttered. “Uneven place—pry up—films there——”