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hurried down the stairs. Cassidy looked after him, a little in doubt what to make of the proceeding. Then he glanced at William.

"Here, you get out of this!" he called roughly.

"All right," agreed William cheerfully. "It's your place, I admit, but you'll sing a different tune pretty soon. I'll get out of the hallway but the street is free, and I'll be on guard there until this thing is settled."

"You're too fresh!" spluttered Cassidy, as he turned and went back upstairs.

"That's all right! You'll get what's coming to you pretty soon," retorted William confidently, as he went down to the street to await the return of Bart with reinforcements.

Bart soon got into communication with Mr. Wilding, and with the two chums, at their hotel. They said they would hurry to the lodging house, and Mr. Wilding announced that he would bring a detective from headquarters, rather than have the