In a trice he had out his pocketknife and with it he cut Ralph's bonds. Ralph himself removed the gag.
"Thank you, Mickety!" he ejaculated, as he sprang to his feet. "You are the friend in need!"
"I seen him leadin' yer up here, an' I t'ought it was mighty queer," said the bootblack. "Wot's de game?"
"I am as much in the dark as you, Mickety. That man has tried twice before to take my life."
"Gee! yer don't say!"
"It is true."
"Maybe he wants ter git a fortune away from yer, like der villain in der play."
"There is no fortune to get away—at least none that I ever heard of. But where has he gone?"
"He went down der street. I watched him around der corner before I came up, so as ter make sure I wouldn't be collared."
"We had best get out of here before he comes back," went on Ralph, after a moment's thought. "I do not wish to meet him again," and he shuddered.