tairs."

The fellow waited an instant as if to learn whether there were any more
directions to be given, and then dragged Jet out through a door which
led to the apartments above.

There were no stairs connecting the first with the second story. A
stout ladder afforded the only means of ascent, and since Jet could not
make his way up this while his hands were tied, his jailor was forced
to remove the rope.

"Now get along; but look out how you try to play any tricks, for this
is a mighty unhealthy place for anything of the kind."

Jet had no idea of attempting to escape while the odds were so
decidedly against him, and he obeyed meekly.

The man conducted him to a small room at the rear of the building,
which looked as if it had lately been used as a workshop, and there
left him, after locking and barring the door from the outside.

The prisoner gazed around him curiously.

The apartment did not contain a single article of furniture. One small
window admitted the light, and this was so heavily barred with wooden
uprights that even with a sharp saw considerable time would have been
required for the prisoner to cut through.

In one corner was a heap of dirt and fragments of paper; the floor was
stained as if with ink, as were the walls of hewn boards.

From the window the stable was all with the exception of trees, to be
seen. A more desolate spot could not well be imagined, and to add to
its loneliness was the fact that it must be many miles from the nearest
habitation.

Jet had no time to speculate upon his own condition; the only thought
in his mind just then was why these men chose to live in such a
forsaken place.

In an adjoining room he could hear some person walking around briskly,
evidently moving heavy articles from one spot to another, and from
below came the hum of conversation.

Having nothing better to do, and still intent on trying to learn the
purpose for which this house was intended, Jet began kicking away the
pile of dirt.

A bit of bright green attracted his attention.

Picking it up he found to his great surprise and delight that it was a
new ten dollar bill. The fact, that it was unsigned escaped his notice.

"Well, this isn't so bad," he said, in a tone of satisfaction. "If I
ever do get away from this place I'll have money enough to pay my fare
to New York. I s'pose it belongs to them fellers; but I'm going to
keep it, all the same, to even up for what they've done."

Now