"You have saved at least twenty lives!" gasped Farley, sinking, pale and trembling, into a chair.
"Where is my sister?" demanded Al Allston—for the newcomer was he—paying no attention to his enemy's words.
"She shall be restored to you," said Farley, who was thoroughly sobered by the shock.
"She shall not," cried the woman. "She shall not leave this house alive!"
It was plain to Al that Miss Hollingsworth was mentally deranged, and not wholly responsible for her conduct and words.
"Where is she?" he repeated.
"She is asleep in yonder room," said Farley, pointing to a door at the farther end of the drawing room. "Take her with you and go."
The plotter seemed entirely unnerved; he was ready to surrender at once and without protest all that for which he had schemed so long.
The boy advanced toward the apartment designated. Miss Hollingsworth made no attempt to detain him as he passed her; but there was a strange, meaning smile on her face, the significance of which our hero did not comprehend.
He entered the adjoining room. His sister lay upon the bed, fully dressed and apparently asleep. He was about to lift her in his arms when there came from the other room a strange, wild peal of laughter. It was immediately followed by a terrific explosion.