hoot
you like a dog! Will you give up?"

"Never!" muttered Evan.

The effect was surprising. "Evan! You! Oh, my God!" whispered
Charley. The tense body slackened for a moment. Evan, gathering his
strength, heaved up and threw him off.

But Charley was quick too. When Evan reached for him he was not there.
Evan, grinding his teeth with rage, scrambled for him on hands and
knees. The other kept just beyond his reach. Both were confused by
the utter darkness. Each time one succeeded in getting to his feet, he
promptly crashed over a branch again. Evan clutched at Charley's
clothes, and Charley wrenched himself free. Charley, seeking to escape
Evan, collided with him and recoiled gasping. Meanwhile he never
ceased imploring him in a desperate whisper. But it was something more
than the note of personal fear that actuated his pleading.

"Evan, hold up! You don't know what you're doing! Evan, listen! Let
me talk to you quietly! I swear I'm on the square! Evan, for God's
sake hold up, or I swear I'll have to shoot you!"

But Evan was past listening. "Throw your gun away, and stand up to me
like a man!" he said thickly.

In the mad, blind scramble, Charley finally got his bearing and started
to run back towards the highway. Evan plunged after him. Charley
tripped and fell headlong, and Evan came down on top of him.

Charley was helpless then, for in strength he was no match for Evan.
Yet he still struggled desperately. Not to escape though. His hand
was in his pocket. Not for his gun, because that was already out. He
managed to get the hand to his lips, and then Evan understood. The
warning whistle! As Charley drew breath to blow, Evan snatched it out
of his hand and flung it into the bush.

While Charley still implored him, Evan shook out a handkerchief in his
teeth, and gagged him. With the other handkerchiefs that he had
brought against such a contingency, he tied his hands behind his back,
and tied his ankles. He then possessed himself of Charley's pocket
searchlight, and with its aid found the revolver which had flown from
Charley's hand upon his fall.

With his antagonist bound and helpless at his feet, Evan cooled down.
He rapidly considered what he must do next. He had no means of knowing
how well the old house might be barricaded, and it would be the height
of foolhardiness to attempt to storm it single-handed. On the other
hand, if he took the time to go for the police, the c