Joe wanted to ask him more, but the man only waved his hand and disappeared in the black mouth of the tunnel. Joe felt for the spikes in the slippery pile and found them just as his rescuer had said. Three minutes later he was standing on the hot planks of the dock, the glorious summer sun beating down on him, deep joy and thanksgiving in his heart.
The dock was deserted, and Joe started for the landward end, on his guard for any sign of his enemies. But nothing occurred to hinder him, and in a few minutes he had reached West Street. Here he turned south for a few blocks and then east until he reached a subway station. Here he boarded a subway train that would take him to the Polo Grounds.
As the train whizzed uptown it almost seemed to Joe as though he had been through a terrible dream, from which he had just awakened. In his ears was still the voice of the man, saying:
“The gang will meet at Bill Davendorp’s to-night and we’ll make our plans then.”
Joe had heard of this Davendorp before. He was a shady character, known to the police but never actually convicted of any crime. He was the proprietor of “Davendorp’s Sporting Parlors,” a resort much frequented by people who led an evil life.
Already Joe was beginning to revolve plans in his mind for discovering the schemes of the plotters, but, warned by his recent terrible experience, he had no intention of going into the venture single-handed. He planned to tell the whole story to McRae and leave the matter to the greater experience and resources of the manager.
When Joe entered the clubhouse a shout went up that brought McRae and Robson on the run, under the impression that a riot had broken out. Joe was bombarded with questions from every side, and the delight of his team mates passed all bounds. It was some time before McRae and Robson could drag him away to the former’s office, where Joe gave a complete account of his harrowing experiences.
“But how about Jim?” asked McRae, when Joe had finished. “Wasn’t he with you?”
“Jim?” exclaimed Joe. “Don’t tell me that the gang has got him, too!”