“You know that this tenderfoot fired the hotel, don't you?” asked one man hoarsely.
“I've reason to suspect that he did—”
“That's enough for us!” roared a hundred voices.
“But I've no positive proof of Danes' guilt,” Tom insisted.
“To the tree with him!”
“Not while I've breath left in my body!” Tom blazed forth desperately. “Come, Harry!”
Hazelton sprang to his chum's side, the two fighting desperately to drive away the men who held Frank Danes captive.
“Wait a few hours at least, men!” Tom appealed earnestly. “Don't do anything now that you'll be sorry for to-morrow.”
Other men of calm judgment began to see the force of Reade's remarks.
Tom and Harry were swiftly backed by such reinforcements that the trembling wretch was torn from his would-be destroyers.