The City of Fire | Page 3

as the air. Now and then he could hear
the crash of a broken branch or the crackle of a twig, or the rolling of a
stone set free by a heavy foot, but he went on like a cat, like a little
wood shadow, till suddenly he felt he was almost upon his prey. Then
he paused and listened.
The man was kneeling just below him. He could hear the labored
breathing. There was a curious sound of metal and wood, of a key
turning in a lock. Billy drew himself softly into a group of cypress and
held his breath. Softly he parted the foliage and peered. The man was
down upon his knees before a rough box, holding something in his
hand which he put to his ear. Billy could not quite see what it was. And
now the man began to talk into the box. Billy ducked and listened:
"Hello, Sam! You there! Couldn't come any quicker, lots of passengers.

Lots of freight. What's doing, anyhow?"
Billy could hear a faint murmur of words, now and then one gutteral
burst out and became distinct, and gradually enough words pieced
themselves together to become intelligible.
"... Rich guy! High power machine ... Great catch ... Tonight!... Got a
bet on to get there by sunrise.... Can't miss him!"
Billy lay there puzzled. It sounded shady, but what was the line anyway?
Then the man spoke.
"Sounds easy Sammy, but how we goin' to kidnap a man in a high
power machine? Wreck it of course, but he might get killed and where
would be the reward? Besides, he's likely to be a good shot--"
The voice from the ground again growing clearer:
"Put something across the road that he'll have to get out and move, like
a fallen tree, or one of you lie in the road beside a car as if you was hurt.
I'm sending Shorty and Link. They'll get there about eight o'clock. Beat
him to it by an hour anyway, maybe more. Now it's up to you to look
after details. Get anyone you want to help till Shorty and Link get there,
and pay 'em so in case anything gets them, or they're late. I'll keep you
wise from time to time how the guy gets on. I've got my men on the
watch along the line."
"I'd like t' know who I'd get in this God forsaken place!" growled the
heavy one, "Not a soul in miles except the agent, and _he'd_ run right
out and telegraph for the State constab. Say, Sammy, who is this guy
anyway? Is there enough in it to pay for the risk? You know
kidnapping ain't any juvenile demeanor. I didn't promise no such stuff
as this when I said I'd take a hand over here. Now just a common little
hold-up ain't so bad. That could happen on any lonely mountain road.
But this here kidnapping, you never can tell how its going to turn out.
Might be murder before you got through, especially if Link is along.
_You know Link!_"
"That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a
whistle, and a million in it if we work it right. The house is all
ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would
suspect. It's far enough away and yet not too far--. You'll make enough
out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake. All
you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business."
"Who'd you say he was?"

"Shafton, Laurence Shafton, son of the big Shafton, you know Shafton
and Gates."
A heavy whistle blended with the whispering pines.
"You don't say? How much family?"
"Mother living, got separate fortune in her own right. Father just dotes
on him. Uncle has a big estate on Long Island, plenty more millions
there. I think a million is real modest in us to ask, don't you?"
"Where's he goin' to? What makes you think he'll come this way 'stead
of the valley road?"
"'Cause he's just started, got all the directions for the way, went over it
carefully with his valet. Valet gave me the tip you understand, and has
to be in on the rake-off. It's his part to keep close to the family, see?
Guy's goin' down to Beechwood to a house party, got a bet on that he'll
make it before daylight. He's bound to pass your mountain soon after
midnight, see? Are you goin' to do your part, or ain't you? Or have I got
to get a new agent down there? And say! I want a message on this wire
as soon as the job is completed. Now, you understand? Can you pull