Of course I stopped to ask if I
could help, for I can't bear to see any machinery out of
order, and as I was stooping over the engine to see what was
wrong I was pounced on from behind, bound and tied, and
before I could do a thing I was bundled into the car--a big
limousine, and taken away.
"The crossroads was as far as we could trace you,"
remarked Ned.
"Well, it wasn't as far as they took me, by any means,"
Tom said. "They brought me here, took me out of the machine--and
I noticed that they'd brought mine along--and then they
carted me into the vault.
"But they didn't have it all their own way," said Tom
grimly. "I managed to get the ropes loose, and I had a
regular knock down and drag out with them for a while. But
they were too many for me, and locked me up in that place
after taking away everything I had in my pockets."
"Were they highwaymen?" asked Mr. Kimtall.
"No, for they tossed back my money, watch and some trifles
like that," Tom answered. "I didn't recognize any of the
men, though one of them must have known me, for when they
had me tied I heard one of them ask if I was the right
party, and another said I was.
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