Owen Clancy's Happy Trail; Or, The Motor Wizard in California

confidence wha

say, Burton," he said, "but whether I

confident response. "Down the street, a

ure place, and the gloom of the eucalyptus trees surrounded it.

the time you were shot, we laid a bee line for Los Angeles. We've been there ever since, up to last Sunday morning. Gerald was bughouse on a gambling proposition, across

ou ever saw. I didn't have a cent in my pocket, and Gerald wo

geles, and he got the idea that Hill was trailing him. Of cour

grunted Hiram. "There

ll off of our trail, and we all reckoned the scheme had won out. I didn't know, until I looked up into the glass bottom of that boat, th

koned," remarked H

was still the tightwad, and I couldn't live on prospects, no matter how rosy they might be. Sunday afternoon, while I was out diving, Gerald and Bob called on Lopez. I get it straight, from a fellow w

flecting on the great wrong that had been don

Captain Hogan. Lopez–I saw him no more than half an hour ago–says Wynn and Katz are planning to cut loose from me, I'

ter you gave us the slip at S

ood brought me my clothes. You see, I was expecting every minute yo

a friend

hought of: From all I can find out, Wynn and Katz haven't an idea you and Hill are up Avalon. Suppose we three go to their hang-out and

erald Wynn a

at Hogan's bungalow. I know

y hes

on. "Well, forget it. All I want in this world is to break even

ancy, "and you may be lying for the purpo

I tell you I'm s

it turns out to be a frame-up, Burton will be with

he motor wizard. "L

eet, proceeded halfway along the block, and halte

when he's in Avalon and ashore," r

murmured Hill. "Looks l

Clancy, "that the captain is not at

and Katz," continued Burton. "I'll not le

was still very distrustful of Burton, and watched warily

and discovered it to be locked. Moving thence to a window that open

whispered to Clancy. "If it's the ord

upper and lower sash, and maneuvered for a minute or two. Finally he gave vent to

k," said he. "We can

was lifted, and the way i

u can go with me. If you're afraid to trust m

don't want to take your report about w

, and while they stood in the dark room at the front of

heavy breathing. Hill caught Cla

place, all right!" said

ed the motor wizard. "I b

Hiram. "I've got a matc

small, meagerly furnished front room was disclosed. Neither Captain

a candle in a candlestick. Hill touched the match to the w

room. Burton glided to it and carefully pus

n–evidently the only one they were to find in the bungalow–must be in that back ro

use. At the first sign of a treacherous move, or the spr

stigators. Something was discovered, on the

A towel was tied over the face of the helpless form, and from behind th

med no longer any good reason for silence, and startled exc

een going on here

at's Hogan?"

"if that towel ain't removed h

ends of the towel, and presently removed the suffocating gag. As the head of the bound man fel

" gasped Cla

f that?" murmured th

a Hottentot!"

three at the cotside exchanged wondering glances. Here was

and went stertorously between his bloated lip

ter with him?"

ered. "Get the ropes off his hands and feet, so he'll be more com

d of the ropes when his eyelids flickered wide open.

double-crossed Burton? You and Hogan are going to make off with the swag! Well, it wo

nt mumbling. It was quite evident that t