Thus they searched the lower floor, even as Billy had done, though more
thoroughly, and mounted to the landing above, here they divided, Shorty
at watch in the hall, while Link went to the front rooms first and
searched each hastily, not omitting closets, ending at the back room
where the prisoner had been.
"He's gone!" said Link in a hoarse whisper, speaking for the first time
after a hasty scanning of the shadowy place.
Shorty took the precaution to turn the key of the door leading to the
third story before he entered to investigate.
"Do you think it was him fired that shot?"
Link shook his head.
"Couldn't! I had him lifted up in my arms and was just handing him some
more dope when the sound come. It seemed it was out front. It must a
been somebody in the front room. Sure! That guy never coulda got them
bracelets off hisself. Looka here! Them was filed off!" They stood with
the flash light between them examining the handcuffs, and then turned
their attention to the rest of the room, studying the bed and floors
carefully for any traces of the possible assistant to the runaway but
finding none. Then they went in the front room again, and this time
discovered the lowered window and the little half moon aperture in the
shutter.
"How do you figger it?" asked Shorty turning a ghastly face toward Link
in the plaided darkness of the flash light.
"Pat!" said Link laconically.
"Pat?"
"Pat. He's yella! I told Sam, but he would have him! I ain't sure but
Sam's yella! I think I'm about done with this outfit!"
"But Pat? What would he do it for?"
"Goin to run the whole game hisself, perhaps, or then again he might be
in with Sam, so they won't have to divvy up. He could say we hadn't
kept out contrac' you know, runnin' away like that."
"We ain't to blame. How'd we know it want the police? We had a mighty
close shave over that state line this A.M."
"Well, that's what he could say, an' refuse to divvy up. But b'lieve
me, Shorty! Nobody's goin' to do me dirty like that! Somebody's been
doing us dirty, you and me, and it's good and right we beat 'em to it."
"Yes, but how ya goin' to do it?"
"I ain't sure yet, but I'm goin' to do it. The first thing, Shorty, is
fer us to get outta here mighty good an' quick. Ef anybody's watchin'
round, we better not be here. We'll fade away. See?"