At that instant there came a cry:
“Larry! Larry! I want Larry!”
“It’s Jimmy!” burst out Larry. “Where are you, Jimmy?”
“Get him out of here! He’s trying to trick us!” shouted Perkins. Larry made a dash for the room whence his brother’s voice had sounded. Perkins jumped up to bar his progress. At the same time all the others in the room rose from their chairs.
Larry thrust his hand into the pocket containing the revolver. Without drawing the weapon he fired.
At the sound of the report Perkins yelled:
“We’re trapped! Every man for himself! Scatter! I’ll take the kid!”
At that instant, as the sound of the report came to him, the man with the plumber’s kit of tools, who had been standing outside the door, drew from the bundle a short but heavy hammer, and with one blow smashed the lock.
As the portal flew open he leaped inside, at the same time blowing shrilly on a whistle he placed to his mouth.
“This is the time Harvey Newton does a bit of real detective work!” he cried, smiling grimly as he dashed toward the lighted room.