“And while he’s down there, while the fat-head committee is on its way, in steps Wheels and walks away with Rufus Cruikshank himself. Boy! It will cost Seaview City a couple of hundred grand to get their dear mayor out of hock!”
The revelation brought a silent gasp from Herbert Carpenter, crouched on the balcony. That was Wheels Bryant’s game tonight! The big shot was pulling one himself!
Wheels was going to kidnap Rufus Cruikshank at ten o’clock, or shortly after! Hold him for ransom — make the Seaview citizens come across!
Shifter Reeves was chuckling in the other room. Carpenter listened intently.
“Great gag, eh?” Shifter was saying. “Big Tom, sitting here — butter melting in his mouth — no longer a gambler — no connection with anything. Of course, they’ll think of him as the intermediary. They’ll beg him to advertise that he’ll pay dough for the lost mayor. He’ll get the cash — Rufus Cruikshank will be brought back! Leave it to Wheels — he knows the lay!”
“What about me?” demanded Hooks. “Guess I’m doing nothing tonight, eh? Before Wheels pulls his stunt, I’ll have that beautiful young heiress all loaded on the boat, waiting for Wheels to show up.
“If Cruikshank is worth a few hundred grand, the jane is worth more than half a million. Big Tom will work that racket, too. A double job.”
Carpenter was more nonplused than before. There would be two kidnappings tonight — the first, by Hooks, at nine thirty; the second, by Wheels, at ten, or shortly after! But who was the girl that Hooks had mentioned?
“They don’t call me Hooks for nothing,” Borglund was growling. “This is my racket, Shifter. You want to know how I’m working it tonight? I’ll tell you.
“I’ve got ten men on the job. Stationed down the line from the girl’s room. Ready for a getaway — ready to stop the bulls if they try to crash. Two of them are going in — may be there now. They’ll get the girl. At nine thirty, sharp, I show up. If there’s been any slip, I’m out of the game entirely.