Page:The Whisper on the Stair by Lyon Mearson (1924).djvu/306

 and bonds. A rapid calculation on the spot showed them that there was nearly half a million dollars in money and negotiable securities in front of them.

Rapt in their interest, the small group clustered around the box, lost to everything but what was before them. Half a million dollars!

“Oh!” murmured Jessica, clasping her hands together. “To think⸺”

There was a movement behind them, and they heard a voice. So absorbed were they that they had forgotten all else—forgotten the chance of Teck’s appearance. They whirled now.

In front of them stood Teck and his three roughnecks, the three carrying revolvers menacingly.

“I rather think we’ll have to relieve you of all that,” remarked Teck pleasantly, his eyes gleaming at the open box, at the wealth displayed therein.

A swift, determined glance passed between Eddie and his employer—it was a thing of a fraction of a second, but it was enough. They knew that this was no time to give up.

A lightning kick of Eddie’s foot disarmed one of the men, and at the same moment both Val and he leaped for them. There was no time to use the weapons, so swiftly did they attack. It was a rough and tumble fight.

A sudden lunge by Val, and Horseface dropped to the ground, knocked out clean.

“Clean ’em up, Eddie!” he shouted.

They were all over their opponents in an instant. Val was the poetry of motion in his actions, lithe as a mountain cat, and as terrible. Closing with his man, he grasped his gun-hand, the weapon being discharged in the air. There was a dull crack, and the gun