“We’ll see,” said the newcomer briefly.

Still covering them with his weapon, he put his free hand in Chester’s pocket and relieved the lad of his revolver.  A similar operation and Uncle John’s gun came forth.  Uncle John could keep quiet no longer.

“There goes my gun,” he said sorrowfully.

In spite of the seriousness of the situation Chester was forced to laugh.

“Don’t worry; you’ll get it back,” he replied.

“You think so, eh?” sneered the newcomer.  “Tell me,” addressing Chester, “what are you doing here?”

“That’s for you to find out,” replied the lad.

“Well, I’ll find out,” exclaimed the man.  “Do you know who I am?”

“Why, yes; your name is Robard, isn’t it?”

The other stepped back in surprise.

“So you know me, eh!” he exclaimed.  “Then you are not burglars.”

“Hardly,” replied Chester.

“Then what are you doing here?”

“I can’t see that it will do any harm to tell you,” was Chester’s answer.  “We are after the paper you stole from Colonel Fuesco to-day.”

“Oho!  And by any chance are you the same youngster I encountered in the street?”

“The same,” replied Chester briefly.

“And where is the other?  Surely,” peering closely at Uncle John, “you are not he.  He was younger.”

“Right you are,” replied Uncle John.  “But I guess he’ll turn up when he is most needed.”

“You think so?  Then he had better turn up quickly.”  He turned again to Chester.  “So you came after the paper,” he said.  “I am very sorry to say that you will not get it.”

“Then you have sent it to Vienna,” said Chester, somewhat crestfallen.

“Oh, no, I still have it right here,” and Robard tapped the breast pocket of his coat.

“Thanks,” said Chester.  “I just wanted to know where you kept it.”

“I suppose you think you are very smart,” said the Austrian, somewhat angry at having betrayed himself.

“Smart enough, I guess,” returned Chester.

“Come, I have had enough of this,” exclaimed the Austrian.  “Hold your hands up now, and march out of this room ahead of me.”

He waved his revolver from one to the other, and stepped aside that the two might pass ahead of him.  Uncle John and Chester obeyed his injunction and moved toward the door.  The Austrian took a step after them.

It was at this moment that Hal came into action.

With a sudden spring he leaped upon the Austrian from behind.  With one hand he seized the wrist that held the revolver, and turned it upward.  With the other he clutched the man by the throat, shutting off his wind and preventing him from crying out.  Hal called to Chester: 

“Grab him!”

Chester and Uncle John wheeled about and lent a hand in subduing the Austrian.  Three against one, it was easy work, and after a short struggle Robard lay panting on the floor.  Hal drew his own revolver and covered him.