“It’s false,” stormed Gabe Flecker, but looked much disconcerted.
“The next time I ran across him he had obtained the autograph of an ex-mayor named Sinclair Basswood. He told Mr. Basswood he wanted the autograph to place in a valuable collection, but instead he turned the autograph into the signature on a check for sixty-five dollars. Mr. Basswood offered fifty dollars reward for the capture of the rascal. I’m going to win that reward if I can.”
“Are you?” sneered Gabe Flecker. “Not much!” And leaping at Frank he hurled him aside and ran for the front door.
For the moment, our hero was taken off his guard, while Mrs. Larkspur let out a loud scream which brought all the servants in the house to the scene.
But Frank was quick to recover, and picking up a sea shell which lay handy, he hurled it at Gabe Flecker’s head. His aim was true, and the swindler was caught in the ear, and let out a cry of pain. Before he could unfasten the front door Frank had him by the arm.
“Stop, or it will be the worse for you, Gabe Flecker,” he said, earnestly, and raised his fist to strike.
By this time a man who had come to the back door to sell vegetables appeared, followed by two girls. The man caught Flecker by the other arm.
“Let go of me!” cried the swindler. “I tell you it is all a mistake. If you have me arrested I’ll prove that I am innocent, and have you locked up for false imprisonment.”
“Mrs. Larkspur, have you a telephone in the house?” asked Frank.
“Yes.”