just discovered. A sharp cry of surprise brought
Jack and Ned to his side in an instant.

The lads saw Harry bending over the form of their missing chum. Jimmie
lay in a heap, blocking the passageway.

Fearful that their first suspicions had been correct, the boys scarcely
dared investigate. Jack began growling out uncomplimentary remarks
concerning Mackinder. Ned quickly forced his way to Harry's side.

"Here, let me see him!" Ned cried, throwing the flame of his searchlight
on the recumbent form. "Why, he's all huddled up!"

"All in a bunch!" agreed Harry. "I wonder if he's hurt!"

"Roll him over," directed Ned. "Let's get him out of here!"

"Why, he's tied!" cried Harry, in a startled voice.

"Tied?" questioned Jack, pushing forward. "Who tied him?"

"And gagged!" went on Harry, his voice vibrating with indignation.
"Mackinder will pay for this!" the lad continued. "We'll get him!"

Without the loss of a moment Harry was swiftly relieving Jimmie of the
object which prevented speech. A small block of wood had been forced
between Jimmie's teeth. This had been secured in place by tying a
handkerchief over his face. The gag had been extremely effective, even
though it was uncomfortable and crude.

As the gag was removed Jimmie wagged his jaw a few times to relieve the
strained muscles. He nodded his appreciation.

"How are you feeling, Jimmie?" was Ned's solicitous inquiry.

"All right," replied the lad. "Untie my hands, will you?"

"Gee, but you're an artist, Jimmie!" cried Jack. "We'll get you a job as
'Tricko, The Handcuff King'! I want to say right now," the boy went on in
mock seriousness, "there are very few people who can tie themselves up so
completely and so quickly as this job has been done!"

"You win the argument!" decided Jimmie, ironically. "If I get my tutor
where I can lay hands on him I'll show him a trick or two that wasn't in
the first chapter. He's in for some instruction all right!"

"What happened, Jimmie?" asked Ned, carefully passing his knife through
the bonds that confined the other's hands and feet.

"Well, when I came slamming along into the warehouse I was only a few
feet behind the milk maid!" began Jimmie. "I at once crept in on tiptoe,
because I reasoned that he would be slugging along, making considerable
noise. I didn't know that there were goods in here.

"I couldn't see him anywhere. From that I concluded that he had either
stopped or had taken to tiptoeing, too. I ha