“That’s him!”
However, he did not think they meant him, and so he gave the matter no more consideration. He took the story to the office and came back for more. There was quite a bunch of copy waiting, as several incidents had occurred that Mr. Newton had preferred writing about instead of telephoning.
As Larry was going up the stairs to the train with this last batch of copy he saw the three men again.
“Now’s our chance!” one of them cried.
Two of them made a grab for the boy, for the stairs were screened in from observation, and no one was in sight.
CHAPTER XVII
TAKEN PRISONER
At first Larry thought they were perhaps only trying to play a joke on him. He involuntarily moved to one side, but, as he did so, one of the men grasped him by the coat collar. Larry began to struggle, but another of the men clasped him about the arms, and a hand was placed over the boy’s mouth to prevent any cry issuing.
“Whistle for the cab!” the shortest of the men whispered, and a shrill note came from the lips of someone.
Larry felt himself lifted up and borne down the stairs. He heard a confused noise and then a loud explosion. It subsequently developed that some of the strikers set off a bomb at that time. This drew a big crowd near the scene of the explosion and the vicinity of the elevated railroad steps was almost deserted.