ls that can be fired as fast as the
finger presses the trigger. He believed this would answer his purpose
admirably, and acting on the spur of the moment he immediately drew it
forth.

Oscar was still very diligent with that handkerchief of his, switching
it to and fro, as though determined that not a speck of dust should
remain to mar the appearance of his garments. It would seem as though
Oscar must be an exquisite of the first water when on his native heath;
though Rod was more firmly convinced than ever that this was Gay Paree
rather than Cincinnati, Ohio, which he had so boldly claimed as his home
city.

So Rod, sauntering toward the other in an apparently idle fashion,
suddenly came up behind him, and clapped the cold metal tool against the
nape of Oscar's neck, causing a shudder to pass through the other's
whole system.

"Don't try to make a move or you are a dead man!" said Rod, sternly;
"I'll pull the trigger if you so much as turn your head this way!"

"Gee! whilikins!" exclaimed Josh, whirling about; while Hanky Panky,
taken completely by surprise, could only stand there and stare as though
he imagined Rod had suddenly taken leave of his senses, for up to that
moment Hanky had not entertained the slightest suspicion toward the man
they were helping on his way.

Oscar apparently understood; at any rate he remained as motionless as
though carved out of stone. His face went white, and his eyes rolled
wildly in their sockets, but he knew better than to risk having his poor
brains blown out by an incautious movement.

"Your game is up, my friend!" said Rod sternly. "I've been watching you
send a message to some one with that handkerchief of yours. Don't waste
your breath to deny it. You have been trying to lead us into a trap,
perhaps for the sake of helping your friend, Jules. Well, we are on to
your game, and mean to block it. Josh!"

"On deck, Rod!" exclaimed the one addressed, cheerily, with a wide grin
decorating his face; for it amused him to see how after all Rod had
taken matters into his own hands, and turned the tables on the
scoundrel.

"You're getting to be a clever hand at playing the frisking act, Josh,"
continued the leader of the trio; "suppose you look this chap over, and
remove any deadly weapons you may find. I'll keep him still, dead or
alive, while you do it."

"I beg of you to be careful, young M'sieu!" gasped Oscar, betraying his
French origin in that unguarded moment; "I assure