Carpenter drew a deep breath.
“My name is Carpenter,” he declared. “Herbert Carpenter.”
“The escaped convict!” The cry came from Yates. “The fellow that was sent up!”
Swinging past the other men, the police chief grasped the unexpected visitor. He saw the bloodstains on Carpenter’s clothes. He drew a revolver to cover this dangerous criminal. Carpenter offered no resistance.
“Let me speak!” he pleaded. “Let me speak! It is important!”
Something in his wild tone won his request. With Chief Yates on guard, the other men had forgotten their apprehension. Carpenter looked from face to face. He caught the dignified eye of Mayor Cruikshank. It was to him that he addressed himself.
“I broke jail” — his admission came in puffing gasps — “to come back here. I came — to get the crooks who had double-crossed me.
“They were working — working two jobs tonight. I–I broke in on the first, I got one of them — Hooks Borglund. He was trying to kidnap Lois Grantham, the heiress.”
Sharp, startled responses greeted this revelation. Mayor Cruikshank interrupted.
“Where did this take place?” he questioned.