“And the wind-up was about as hot as anything,” grinned Rattleton. “We went down into the country with Reynolds, where we thought it would be dead quiet, and things fairly sizzled. Harris turned up again, and tried to kidnap Elsie. The cross-country gallop turned into a man-hunt, and Merry came near finishing Harris when he caught him.”
“He escaped being hanged when he was drowned, after that,” declared Diamond. “He’ll never trouble anybody again.”
“Never,” nodded Frank. “I am glad his blood is not on my hands, but I did come near finishing him at the bridge.”
“You came out of your trance then,” said the Virginian. “Harris realized that the time when you would spare him was past, and that is why he made such a desperate attempt to escape by swimming the river.”
“Let’s not talk about the poor devil,” said Merry seriously. “He is dead.”
“And so is his running-mate, Brattle.”
“No. I have learned that Martin Brattle was not killed in London, but was seriously injured, and taken to a hospital, where he gave a fictitious name. I have reasons to believe he recovered.”
“Well, it’s hardly probable he’ll ever trouble you again.”
“I hope he’ll have sense enough to keep away from me. One thing that happened in London I seriously regret.”
“What was that?”