The patrol-wagon was sent for, and soon the prisoners were on their way to the station-house. In the meanwhile Mr. Newton telephoned in the story of the raid on the Rising Sun gang; every member who had been in the headquarters having been captured. The story was a beat for the Leader—one of the biggest of the year.
As for Larry, he lost no time hurrying home with Jimmy and the deed. When he entered the house, Mrs. Dexter was so excited she almost fainted, and the neighbors, hearing the good news about the return of the kidnapped boy, crowded in to learn the particulars.
Larry told them as well as he could, and then, when the rooms became quiet, and the neighbors had gone to their apartments, he and his mother sat down, and Mrs. Dexter indulged in a good cry. Larry felt a little like it himself, now that the excitement was over, but he decided it was hardly what ought to be done under the circumstances.
As for Jimmy he hardly knew whether to stand on his head or his feet. He danced around, hugged Mary, Lucy, his mother, and Larry, and then told of his experiences, as well as he could, in the Chinese den.
Meanwhile the prisoners were safely lodged in cells, all but Peter. In consideration of his youth, he was sent to the rooms of a society that took charge of wayward boys.
As soon as he had telephoned the story in to his paper, Mr. Newton went to Larry’s house. He had discarded his disguise, leaving the plumber’s outfit behind, and once more looked like himself.
“Well, it’s all over, Larry,” he announced, “and I guess we came out with flying colors. I couldn’t have done it any better myself, inside that room with the gang. Your signal came just at the right time.”
“Oh, I’m so glad it’s over, and that Jimmy is safe,” remarked Mrs. Dexter.
“Well, it isn’t all over yet, by a good bit,” said Mr. Newton. “But I trust your worries are. Where’s that deed, Larry?”
“Oh, that old deed,” exclaimed Mrs. Dexter. “I never want to see it again. It was the cause of all our trouble.”