“Perhaps so, yet——”
“Stop a bit!” Chick suddenly interrupted, rising to peer through the shrubbery. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“Gee!” muttered Patsy, also starting to his feet. “Something’s up!”
Though they had no way of learning the occasion for the excitement at this time, both being out of hearing and unable to approach without being detected, it was at just this time that Badger received from Vic Clayton a telephone communication concerning Nick Carter’s designs, and which had been quickly followed by the laying of the plot that later resulted in Nick’s downfall.
Badger had come plunging out of the back door of the house, without coat or hat, throwing away his cigar as he ran across the lawn, all the while shouting lustily to Conley.
It was his sudden appearance and obvious excitement that had so startled both Chick and Patsy.
Conley turned back upon hearing the shouts, and the two crooks met about twenty feet in front of the stable, within plain view of the detectives.
There Badger talked rapidly for several moments, with occasional fierce gestures in the direction of the city, and all the while both men exhibited in their faces and movements a consternation and excitement not easily to be accounted for by one out of hearing.
“Gee! I’d give something to know what they are saying,” muttered Patsy, staring with distended eyes.
“There is something in the wind,” nodded Chick.