“They’re gaining!” he cried desperately. “They’re going through the line with every rush! Lawrence is groggy! They’re hammering him! Another ten yards and they’ll make a touchdown!”
As if unable to longer watch the failure of his team, Merriwell turned from the window, and put one hand over his eyes.
This was the cue for the newsboy to rush in with word that the heroine had been intercepted by the villain’s friends while on her way to save Jarvis, but to Dick’s surprise the boy did not appear. He waited a moment, and then, turning back for an instant to the window, improvised a line or two.
Suddenly the door burst open, and the belated boy appeared. His face was white, his eyes shining with excitement, a smear of blood trickled from a cut on his face.
Leaping across the stage, he caught Dick’s arm.
“They’ve got her!” he shrilled. “They’re trying to get Miss Gray into a cab. Hurry! Hurry, or you’ll be too late!”
These were not the proper words at all, but they seemed very appropriate to the audience, who burst into applause. Dick, knowing full well that something was wrong, rushed from the stage, with the boy at his heels.
Outside he stopped, and faced the actor.
“What is it?” he demanded. “What are you talking about? What’s the matter?”
“They’ve got Miss Gray!” gasped the boy. “Down at the stage door. They’re carrying her off. One of ’em hit me a crack——”