can money. We
believe you are telling us the truth, as your words are
corroborated by the men who brought him here. But if you are
playing us false, we shall know how to reach you."

The American shrugged his shoulders as he took the bills, rolled
them up nonchalantly and placed them in his trousers pocket.

"You can find me at the Hidalgo Hotel whenever you want me," he
said, "and now I must be going."

He arose from his seat, and as he did so, Donald caught sight of
his face. It was the mountebank, Strong, but in his stylish
clothing Don had failed to recognize him.

"Great Scott!" he muttered to himself, "the plot thickens!"

"What's that?" queried the lieutenant, who caught the muttered
exclamation.

"Nothing much," replied Donald as the three men walked toward a
door in the farther end of the room and he was enabled to speak
without being heard, "only that is the man I'm looking for. Let's
get out of the window and see if we can't head him off."

He closed the door and turned the key which he had quietly taken
from the other side.

The windows were open and they looked out. They were on the side
of the house overlooking a good-sized lawn.

"That's the reason they are not barred," explained Donald. "Had
they been front windows, we might as well have been in jail. You
go first and I'll cover the retreat."

Lieut. Grimes sprang into the window and lowered himself to the
ground, just as a hand turned the knob.

"Good-bye!" muttered Donald. "Sorry I can't wait to receive you,"
and he followed the lieutenant.

On the ground they could hear the men trying to open the door and
as they sped across the lawn toward a high brick wall, the door
gave way with a crash and they could hear surprised voices.

"They have discovered our wreckage!" cried Donald. "Over the wall
you go!"

"You first this time," said the lieutenant.

"No, you first. I can boost you up, but I couldn't pull you. You
can pull me."

The argument was good and the lieutenant acted upon it.

A minute later he was on top of the wall.

"Great Caesar!" he exclaimed. "There's nothing under me but
water."

"Never mind that," was the response. "Haul me up."

The lieutenant leaned down and gave the lad a hand.

"Here we are," he said a minute later. "We can't jump in, for
there is no knowing where we are."

"Sure," from Donald. "Let's run along the wall."

This they did for about a hundred yards and then the wall ended
abruptly against