Frank stopped and caught his breath. He was alone! The Mystery had disappeared!
“Well, talk about your modern magic—this beats anything yet! That man comes and goes like a disembodied spirit.”
The Mystery had promised to open that door, and Merry had confidence to believe he would keep his word, so he waited there in the narrow yard beneath the gloomy trees. He heard a distant clock tolling the hour, and the sound gave him a chill, like a bell pealing for the passing of a soul.
Frank pushed against the mended door, but it stood firm before him. He moved about and explored the yard. In this manner it seemed that at least an hour passed. Of course it was not so long, but time dragged slowly with him waiting there. Frank was growing impatient, when he heard a sound behind him, and wheeled about. Black shadows were appearing under the trees. There was more than one of them—there were several! Those shadows moved like creatures of life. They seemed to crouch and steal toward him. In the blackness under the trees there was a whisper. Frank Merriwell recoiled against the mended door, his heart leaping into his mouth.
“Trapped!”
The word leaped to his lips, and his hand flew for a weapon. In that instant those shadows darted forward and sprang upon him. He tried to draw his revolver, but it was knocked from his hand. In falling it was discharged when it struck the ground, and the flash lighted for a single instant the triumphant face of Frank’s enemy, Martin Brattle.
Merry struck hard and sure for that face, and his fist landed. The man was knocked down, but he struggled up, snarling:
“Crush him down! Capture him! Don’t kill him! I have a use for him! Take him alive!”
“If you can!” panted Merry, fighting like a tiger at bay.
They leaped upon him, and he hurled them back. They tried to beat him down, but he stood like iron before their blows. He sent them reeling, cursing, falling. He felt that he had been betrayed at last by the mysterious man who had led him to that spot. A score of times Diamond had warned him that Mr. Noname would turn on him, but he had not heeded the words of the Virginian. Now it had happened. The Man Without a Name had brought him there to that yard and left him in order that he might be captured by Brattle and his gang.