“Who knocked him out?” demanded Bilby.
The burly Chinaman was the one he addressed, who answered in a form of English:
“Allee same me. I get um, Mist’ Blibly.”
“For mercy’s sake!” whined Bilby, wringing his fat hands. “These people aren’t police. They are some of the summer visitors. Now we are in a mess!”
“Allee same look-see,” growled the Chinaman. He kicked Chessleigh, and not gently. “Number one sneakee—him! She——”
He nodded violently toward Ruth, thus drawing Bilby’s attention to the girl. Bilby strained his fat neck forward to see the girl more closely. There were other sounds coming from the passage.
“What’s doing, Mr Bilby?” asked a gruff voice.
The fat little man was panting. He pointed waveringly at Ruth.
“Here’s a pretty mess,” he gasped. “What between these Chinks and that crazy old duffer, they have got me in a nice mess. I know this girl. She belongs to that moving picture outfit. Now what are we going to do?”
“Knock her in the head,” was the advice of the growling voice.