“It’s a trick!” exclaimed Hodge hoarsely. “The stuff burns.”
“That will stop in a moment,” laughed the gipsy. “It will do you good.”
“Grab her, Jack!” exclaimed Bart. “She has done something to put my hand out of commission.”
But the old woman turned and ran with surprising speed through a doorway and disappeared into a saloon. Ready jumped after her, but, as he entered the saloon by one door, he saw her disappear through another that led onto a side street. He rushed after her, but she had vanished when he reached the street.
“Well, by the powers!” gasped Jack. “She’s vanished like a witch!”
When he returned to the point where he had left Bart, he saw the latter just disappearing into a drug store. Jack hurried after. As he entered, he heard Hodge saying to the druggist:
“An old woman threw something on my hand that burns like fire. I believe it was acid. Give me something quick to relieve me.”
The druggist sprang to obey, after taking a single look at Bart’s hand.
“Vitriol, or something like it,” declared the druggist, as he quickly applied to the hand something to soothe it. “But it’s queer she threw it on your hand. Vitriol-throwers usually aim at the face.”
Bart saw Jack at his side.