e of the shutter was
sheathed with iron. Also he told him if anything happened to prevent
them getting him out, to keep watch that night on Lafe Green's house, as
there was a great plot on the way.

"I'll have you out in a jiffy now." Garry tapped the message to him, and
then he slid down the rope. Dick and Ruth came running to him.

"Must have something to pry off that shutter with. My axe isn't strong
enough," he told them.

"Oh, I know what," whispered Ruth. "I stumbled over something a minute
ago, and it was a crowbar. Darius, the blacksmith, must have forgotten
to take it in."

"Fine, let's have your riata, Dick. There, I'll loop it around my wrist
and go back up the rope. In the meantime, you tie an end of it to the
crowbar and I can haul it up to me."

So saying, Garry swarmed up the rope again. Arriving at the height of
the window, he manoeuvered until he had twisted the free end of the rope
around his foot several times, thus preventing himself from slipping.

Then he set to work to pry the shutter loose. Fortunately it did not
long resist.

"Look out below," he warned softly, and with a loud thud the shutter
fell into the alley below. Phil was waiting in the window.

"Quick, slide down after me. Lose no time, Phil," ordered Garry.

Down he went, the friction smarting his hands. In less time than it
takes to tell, Phil was down after him. "Never mind the riata on the
chimney. Away we go," said Garry.

"Follow me," ordered Ruth, and she sped away followed by the three
chums. They were out of sight not a moment too soon, for as they turned
a corner, running across a lawn to deaden their footsteps, they heard a
howl of rage.

"That's the proprietor's assistant. We just got away in time," said
Ruth.

CHAPTER XV.

THE PLOT.

Ruth led the boys to her home, explaining that it would be better for
them to get out of sight as quickly as possible, lest they come upon one
of their enemies.

"There's no danger of that just now," interrupted Phil, "for I know
where most of them are at just this minute. However, it would be nice if
you would take us to your home for a minute, for I think I have the
keynote to the whole business right now, and I would like to tell my
discoveries to Garry and Dick, and also get some directions from you, if
you will sit in our council of war and act as chief advisor."

"Come right along. I must be getting back and let Mr. Allen go home.
Also Granddad might have wake