“A racket?” asked Jerry.
“That’s the way I figured it. And tonight proves I was right! If I had paid over eight dollars a week, I was assured my building would be safe from fire and damage.”
“You refused, I suppose?” inquired Flash.
“I did,” Sam Davis said with emphasis. “But I figured they would try to get me. So I had this sprinkler system installed. Then I made a point of keeping special watch of the building. The last few nights I’ve been sleeping here.”
“You surprised someone firing the building?” questioned Flash. “That fellow we saw running away?”
“He surprised me,” Sam Davis answered ruefully. “I was pretty tired, and nothing had happened for the past two weeks. I must have been sleeping like a log not to hear him enter the basement. He had set the fire before I aroused. Then I let out a yell for help but he overpowered me before I could do a thing.”
“Trussed you up and left you to burn?”
“Sure,” said Sam Davis. “Figured a dead witness couldn’t carry any tales to the police!”
“Did you get a good look at the man?”
“It was dark in here. But I know it wasn’t the same man—Judd Slater—who originally tried to shake me down.”