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"You hold--"

He did not finish, for just then one of the h the thin door: "Now, then, where are yer shovin' to?"

"In here," roared a voice that sent a thrill of joy throughfellow, thrusting me behind

him as Ike kicked open the door and strode into the room

"What do I want?" he roared "I want him and our cart-rope Now, then,

where is it?"

There was a fierce ether while

the boy and the wooing to scare me," cried Ike fiercely "There's the

police just at hand if I wants help Now then, where's that rope?"

"What rope?" growled the ruffian "I don't know about no ropes"

"They threw it out of the , Ike," I cried

"That's a lie," snarled the man "There ain't never been no ropes

here"

"There has been one," I cried, feeling bold now; "but they threw it out