He did see though that the men--he counted four of
them--were roughly dressed, and from this he deduced that they were
from the higher walks of life. Clever and successful crooks nowadays
are invariably well-dressed. The rough clothes were in line with the
gruff voices the men assumed. Gruffness could not hide the educated
forms of speech that they used.

The search was over in a minute. "Pick up the package, gentlemen, and
proceed," ordered the voice. The figures melted away in the darkness.
Evan and Deaves went on. The road rose out of the hollow, and they had
more light to pick their tracks. Again a whistle sounded behind them.

"The word is being passed along to those in front of us," said Evan.

After the market gardens came a patch of woods. Deaves halted at the
edge and peered into the shadows.

"I cannot trust myself in there," he muttered. "I simply cannot!"

"Just as you say," said Evan. "I don't suppose they'll let us back
now."

With a groan Deaves started ahead. Evan sniffed the trees gratefully.

In the thick of the woods two figures faced them. White cotton masks
over their faces gave them an unearthly look. Deaves tremulously held
out the package, and it was taken from his hands. No word was spoken.
One man snapped on an electric flash, and in the disk of light that it
threw the other hastily unwrapped the package and examined the bonds.

Now from the white papers a certain amount of light was reflected back
on the man who was holding the flash, and Evan studied him attentively.
He was holding a pistol in his other hand. Something familiar in the
creases of the suit he wore first arrested Evan's attention. That is
to say, these creases suggested the lines of a figure that Evan had
often drawn and painted. When in addition he perceived a certain
well-remembered involuntary twitching in the figure, amazement and
incredulity gave place to certainty.

"Charl!" he cried.

The two masked figures started back. He who held the light took his
breath sharply, and Evan knew he was not mistaken. The man with the
bonds quickly recovered himself.

"Be quiet!" he sharply commanded.

But Evan in his anger had forgotten prudence. "Charl!" he cried.
"What does this mean? Have you turned crook!"

The other man whispered in a passion: "Shoot him if he doesn't shut his
mouth!"

"Yes, shoot your partner," cried Evan.

Charley shrunk back.

"Give me the gun and I'll do it," said the ot