"All in due time, my lad, and after you satisfy our curiosity. You rowed over from Tiburon?"
Matt was silent.
"That's what he must have done," spoke up Ross. "How could he have got here if he hadn't rowed over? He didn't swim, that's sure, for he's got on all his clothes an' they're dry as a bone. I'll go out and see if I can discover his boat."
Ross turned to the door, but Red-whiskers lifted a restraining hand.
"We'll look after the boat in due time, Ross," said he. "Just now we'll give all our attention to Motor Matt. I'll trouble you for that trunk check, my lad," he finished, facing the prisoner once more.
Matt, knowing it would be worse than useless to resist, drew the check from his pocket and tossed it to Red-whiskers.
"Much obliged," said the leader grimly, examining the tag. "This is the one, sure enough," he added to Kinky and Ross.
"How did you know I had it?" asked Matt.
"The gent that raffled off that boat put me next. How much pleasanter it would have been," Red-whiskers pursued, slipping the check into his pocket, "if you'd been nice and sociable, over there at the foot of Clay Street, and let me have that brass tag without trying to make trouble. What have you gained, Motor Matt, by roughing things up like you did? And what have you gained by sneaking in here? Are you any better off?"
"Cut it out, John," growled Kinky. "What's the good o' readin' him a lecture?"