“No, you don’t!” came through Merriwell’s teeth. “I know you! You are the chap who entered my room! You it was who attempted to drug Burns so that this performance would be ruined! And now you have made a fatal mistake by attempting to fire the theater. I have you, and I shall hold you. You will be safely lodged behind prison bars for this trick.”
“Curse you!” panted the man.
“That does not hurt me,” said Merry. “Now, be quiet.”
He pinned the fellow to the floor and held him till others came up. Then the man’s hands were tied.
“Now, we’ll have a look at him,” said Merry, rolling the captive over on his back and pulling the old hat from his head.
Then he gave a cry of amazement, staggering back.
Hodge was there, and he was no less astounded.
Gallup was speechless with astonishment and incredulity.
“The dead alive!” cried Frank.
The man he had captured was the one he believed beneath the quicksands of Big Sandy River, Leslie Lawrence!