“You old humbug!” cried Clancy. “You’re it, of course! Why, Chip, if you didn’t get it I’d never set foot on the diamond again!” He broke off abruptly as he stubbed his toe. “Why don’t you get some light in your blamed old burg, Billy?”
“We’ve got shining lights right now if you’d only take your hat off,” grinned Billy Mac. “But Clan is right, Chip. Captain Chip, I should say!”
“Nonsense!” said Merry. “Of course, I won’t say that I wouldn’t appreciate the honor, fellows, but I think that Randall is the one for the place. Besides, remember, dad talked as if he and I would go away. I sure hope it won’t come true.”
He paused suddenly, for he had detected a dark figure lurking against a wall ahead of them.
“Do you ever have holdups here, Billy?” he went on, in a low voice. “Looks as if that fellow was waiting for a belated traveling man, eh?”
“No danger,” scoffed Billy Mac, after a glance at the hulking figure, which remained by the wall in shadow. “This isn’t a particularly good residence section, but the constable keeps things pretty clean around here. No, I sure hope you won’t leave——”
He was interrupted as the lurking figure slouched out and barred their path. Chip took a keen look, but did not recognize the man at once, for it was dark, and the fellow’s hat was pulled down over his eyes. Something about the figure suggested Bully Carson to him, but he dismissed the swift suspicion that flashed over him.
“Where ye goin’?” demanded the fellow, in an obviously disguised voice.
“That’s our business,” flashed Merry. “Get out of the way.”
The figure lunged forward with a swift blow. So rapidly was it done that before Frank could dodge he felt the man’s fist strike his breast, flinging him violently back against Clancy. At the same instant the eager voice of Carson rose in a low cry: