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", what do you want?" asked the old man, as he eyed Dick, curiously.

"I want to talk to that woman, first of all," cried Dick, and he pointed to Mrs. Sobber, who was just disappearing through a door in the rear of the hallway.

"But what does this mean?" went on Mr. Mason, in a faint voice. "I have done nothing wrong." And now he sank on a rush-bottomed chafr, all out of breath. He was very old, and his hair and his face were exceedingly white.

"I'll be back and tell you," went on Dick. He could see at a glance that the old owner of the building had had nothing to do with the stealing of the fortune or the abduction of Mrs. Stanhope.

Dick ran to the door at the back of the hallway, to find it locked. He threw his weight against it, but it did not give way.