"Be jabers, stop that racket. Can't yez be lettin' a dacent family slape in pace?"
Another door flew open and a black, woolly head was poked out.
"What fo' you alls come makin' such a cumsturbance at dis yar hour ob de night?"
"We're looking for a boy who we think has been trapped in this building. Have you seen anything of him?" asked Ned.
"Sure and I haven't. This is a dacent house and dacent folks. Go along wid yer now and let us slape."
"By gollys we don't kidsnap no boys," came from the negro.
Another door was opened and the Italian who had caught Jack in the hall came out.
"Whatsa da mat'?" he asked.
"We're looking for a boy, our chum. He came into this house two hours ago. We're afraid he——" burst out Billy desperately.
"I see-a da boy in deesa hall," said the Italian. "I teenka heem sneaka teef. I catcha heem but two men and a boy in data rooma dere dey taka heem. Dey say dat he robba heem and they getta even."