He went home, ate his supper, and strolled slowly in the direction of the Stiggs home about dusk.
There was a light in the rear room, and the front door was open. Ralph knocked.
"Come in," sounded a vague direction from the little front parlor.
Ralph stepped into the hall and crossed the threshold of the parlor. He made out a figure dimly, standing by a chair.
"That you, Mr. Stiggs?" he observed. "Pretty dark here. Hold on--what is this?"
Ralph started back. The figure behind him had made a jump and had seized either arm of the youth by the wrist.
At the same moment a second person sprang from the shadows behind Ralph. A rope encircled the young leverman's body, and Ralph Fairbanks was a prisoner.
[CHAPTER XXI--IKE SLUMPS "NUTCRACKER"]
Ralph was taken completely off his guard. He struggled violently, but his assailants had the advantage.
One of them pinioned his arms. The other tied the rope about them. A second rope was whipped about his ankles, and secured.