y much fuss, till I get
ready to let you go," he said, as he treated himself to a long draught
from a black flask. "When we do land at Yonkers, you can go back to
Police Headquarters once more."

The latter remark caused Jet to associate this adventure with the one
he had had in the morning, and after looking intently at the stranger
his suspicions became a certainty.

"This is the short fellow who got me to carry the valise!" he said to
himself. "They know about my goin' to see the inspector, and are bound
to get me out of the way."

The idea that his captor was a cold-blooded murderer, who probably
would not hesitate to add another to his list of crimes, was far from
reassuring, and the perspiration burst out on Jet's face as he thus
persuaded himself he was in immediate danger of a violent death.

CHAPTER III

THE KIDNAPPERS

Jet's captor appeared to be perfectly contented after binding the boy,
and assuring himself that it was impossible an alarm could be given.

He seated himself by the side of the berth, lighted a cigar, and began
to read a newspaper, although the light in the room was far from good
owing to the blinds being closed.

Jet was lying in such a manner that he could see the fellow's face
plainly, and was now able to understand why he had not recognized him
before.

At the saloon he had a heavy moustache and rather long hair. Now his
face was smooth and his head closely shaven.

His face had then been so white as to be pallid, whereas it was now
bronzed deeply. In addition the man's clothing was of the most
fashionable make, while in the morning Jet had seen him clad in coarse,
badly fitting garments.

"There's a big difference in his looks," Jet said to himself, "but yet
I don't understand why I was such a fool as not to know him when he
first spoke."

Messenger number forty-eight had ample time for reflection, for fully
an hour passed without any change in the relative position of affairs,
and then came a low, quick tap at the door.

When it was opened the tall man, now without a beard, and wearing a
pair of green spectacles, came quickly into the room, locking the door
carefully behind him.

"I see you've got the cub," he said, bending over Jet to make certain
of his identity.

"Yes, had him here an hour."

"Have any trouble?"

"Not a particle. He was the first to answer my call, and I took that
as a sign we should get away without leaving a trail."

"We can't lug