Wade Miller reached out, and quickly made the
draw, holding the fateful card up for all to see.

It was the ace of spades!

CHAPTER XLIII.

SAVED!

"Death!"

From beneath the black hoods sounded the terrible word, as the man
beheld the black card which was exposed to view.

The boys were doomed!

Frank's heart dropped like a stone into the depths of his bosom, but no
sound came from his lips.

Barney Mulloy showed an equal amount of nerve. Indeed, the Irish lad
laughed recklessly as he cried:

"It's nivver a show we had at all, at all, Frankie. Th' snakes had it
fixed fer us all th' toime."

"Hold on thar!"

The words came from Muriel, and the boy chief of the moonshiners made a
spring and a grab, snatching the card from Miller's hand.

"Look hyar!" he cried. "This won't do! Let's give ther critters a fair
show."

"Do you mean ter say they didn't have a fair show?" demanded Wade
Miller, fiercely. "Do you say that I cheated?"

"Not knowin' it," answered Muriel. "But ther draw warn't fair, jes' ther
same."

"Warn't fair!" snarled Miller, furiously. "Why not?"

"Because two cards war drawed!" rang out the voice of the masked youth.
"Look--hyar they be! One is ther ace o' spades, an' ther other is ther
nine o' hearts."

Exclamations of astonishment came from all sides, and a ray of hope shot
into Frank Merriwell's heart.

"Did I draw two cards?" muttered Miller, as if surprised. "Wal, what o'
that? Ther black card war ther one exposed, an' that settles what'll be
done with ther spies."

"It don't settle it!" declared Muriel, promptly. "Them boys is goin' ter
have a squar' show."

It was with the greatest difficulty that Miller held himself in check.
His hands were clinched, and Frank fancied that he longed to spring upon
Muriel.

The boy chief was very cool as he took the pack of cards from the hand
of the man who had held them.

"Release one of the prisoners," was his command. "The cards shall be
shuffled again."

Once more Frank's hands were freed, and again the cards were given him
to shuffle. He mixed them deftly, without saying a word, and gave them
back to Muriel. Then his hands were tied, and he awaited the second
drawing.

"Be careful an' not get two cards this time," warned Muriel as he faced
Miller. "This draw settles ther business fer them-uns."

The cards were given to the man who was to hold them, and Miller stepped
forward to draw.

Again the suspense became grea