“You mean—” Both brother and sister were standing upright now, and waiting.
“I arranged with John that I would blow this if we heard anything,” replied Jack, taking a scout whistle from his pocket. “That will waken him if he is asleep; and he and Dick will rush to the cellar-door—to catch the fellow as he comes out!”
“Wonderful!” cried Marjorie. “But wait till we get downstairs—I don’t want to miss the fun!”
“No, we can’t,” answered Jack. “He might get away—like he did when you girls got to the cellar steps!”
Without another moment’s hesitation, Jack blew the whistle out the window; and then, picking up his skirts, flew down the stairs three at a time, with Marjorie close behind. They reached the back door and threw it open just in time to see a figure start to raise the cellar-door when John, with a flying leap, landed upon it with both feet and sent it crashing shut again.
“Hurray!” yelled Jack. “We’ve got ’im! Some team-work!”
John sized up the situation quickly.
“Dick, you keep your eye on that inside cellar-door! He won’t get out those small windows, so this is the only other place. Jack, you watch this door; but stand clear of it—he might take it into his head to shoot through the door.
“Marjorie, I’ve changed my mind about having you telephone; if there are any accomplices hidden around, as Dick and I were, they might stop you. You’re much safer here with Jack and Dick. Now I’ll run along and do the telephoning myself; the people know me. I won’t be long.”
And he dashed out of the yard and up the road at top speed.