Johnston McCulley

“ Just prior to dawn we do our work, make our row, hand you to the police——”
Suddenly the full realization of the trap in which he found himself came to John Dratter. He sprang to his feet, confronted them, snarled at them, looked into the muzzles of the automatics that menaced him.
“Are you going to spoil the evening?” Granilton asked. “Since you cannot help yourself by resisting or trying to put up a fight, why not make the best of it? We shall show you a little entertainment. You may watch Waldorp, and see how a traitor prepares to die. ”

“ Waldorp was starting to say something; those at the table had turned to face him.
A hungry man may wolf food even while facing tragedy, but that was not why John Dratter had been eating. He had been waiting for a moment like this—and he was glad that the coffee was hot.
In an instant he was upon his feet. The scalding coffee shot into the face of Granilton. The heavy container was hurled the length of the table, straight at the others. And John Dratter, bending low, dashed across the wide room toward the door through which Barnes recently had made his exit. ”

“ John Dratter reached the door. Behind him was bedlam. The men had sprung from their chairs and were coming after him, ready and willing to use their weapons. Granilton was screeching because of the scalding coffee.
The door was unlocked. Dratter flung it open and dashed into the hall, jerking the door after him so that it closed and those inside lost time wrenching it open again. Down the hall Dratter rushed, until he came to the head of a flight of stairs running to the lower floor. He saw Barnes at the bottom, just starting up, attracted by the tumult. ”

“ He called up the stairs, and the others came running.
“Barnes,” he commanded, “get something and lash that man's hands behind his back. Take him into that little room on the second floor, tie him in a chair, gag the brute, and you keep watch over him until we have need of him. Understand? Hurry!”
John Dratter could not make a move. Four automatics were covering him now. Barnes disappeared, and presently returned with some lengths of rope. He stepped behind Dratter, grasped his hands and wrenched the arms backward, and began tying them. ”

“ She opened it, and he saw a small closet in which woman's garments were hanging.
“No use going in there,” he said. “I'd be in a worse trap than before.”
“But there is a passage. This is a servant's room—the cook's. ”