“One move and you are a dead man,” he said quietly.

Robard glared up at him angrily.  Chester smiled at him pleasantly.

“You see I am smarter than you gave me credit for,” he said.

The Austrian made no response.

“He keeps the paper in his pocket, Hal,” said Chester.

“So I heard him say,” replied Hal.

He bent over the Austrian and thrust a hand into his pocket.  He pulled forth a batch of papers, and walking over to the window, ran through them hurriedly.

“Find it?” asked Chester, walking over to him.

Hal extended a paper.

“I guess this is it, all right,” he said, and thrust the document into his pocket.

At that moment there came a startled cry from Uncle John, followed by a heavy thud.  Hal and Chester wheeled quickly, just in time to see Robard disappearing through the door, which closed after him with a bang.  A key turned in the lock.  The thud they had heard was Uncle John toppling to the floor as the result of a blow delivered by the Austrian, who, catching Uncle John off his guard, had sprung to his feet and attacked him.

Hal jumped to the door, while Chester bent over Uncle John and assisted him to his feet.

“The scoundrel!” exclaimed Uncle John.  “He took me by surprise.  He gave me no warning.”

“Surely you didn’t expect him to,” said Chester, somewhat angry.

Hal sprang to Chester’s side.

“Quick!” he exclaimed.  “We must get out of here.  Robard will have assistance in a moment.”

“Which way?  Out the window?” asked Chester.

“I guess that will be the best way,” said Hal.  “You first, Uncle John.”

The three hurried to the window, and Uncle John put a leg over the sill.  As he did so a sharp shot rang out and Uncle John withdrew his leg hurriedly.  He tumbled over to the floor, and seizing his foot in his hand, rocked himself back and forward.

“Hit?” asked Chester anxiously.

“I’m afraid so,” replied Uncle John, apparently very much frightened.

Chester bent over him.

He looked at the heel of Uncle John’s shoe, and then exclaimed.

“Get up.  You are all right.  The bullet just carried your heel away.”

Uncle John rose to his feet.

“Felt like I had been plugged through the leg,” he said.  “Just the shock, I guess.  Well, what now, boys?  We can’t get out that way.”

“We’ll have to go through the door, then,” said Chester.

He approached and tried the knob.

“It’s locked,” said Hal.  “I tried it a moment ago.  However, that’s the way we shall have to go out.  Stand back a little.”

He drew his revolver, put the muzzle to the lock and fired.  There was a loud explosion and the room filled with smoke.  Hal seized the knob and threw the door open.

“Where are your guns?” he asked Chester hurriedly.