Realizing, that further protest would be of no avail, though the words stung, the detectives started on their quest followed by the farmer and his son with their guns.
But as Jones placed his hand on the latch leading into the hall there sounded a stifled cough!
Chapter X.
THE DASH FOR LIBERTY.
With a look of gloating, Jones turned toward Mrs. Prior, his lips parted to speak.
Yet he uttered no sound.
Every member of the Prior family was grinning. Why, none of them could have told had their lives depended on it. Possibly their very anxiety was the cause. But whatever produced the emotion, its effect upon the detectives was instantaneous.