Suddenly there came a noise from the front of the house and both boys concealed themselves behind a large clump of bushes.
“Someone’s coming around to the back door,” breathed Bob.
“Probably that’s Tim who came back here to collect the money owed him. The fellow we headed off, I mean. Yes, it’s he,” Joe observed, peeking down the side of the house.
The sound of footsteps grew louder, and the next minute the man stepped around the corner, fists clinched and face scowling.
“Come on,” said Bob, and leaving his place of hiding he launched himself with full force on the back of the crook.
CHAPTER IV
The Treacherous Crook
WITH an oath the man shook Bob off and turned to deal with him.
“You?” he growled in surprise. “You, little more than a kid, would dare to fight Tim Donnahan? Why, I’ll——”