Meanwhile  William  and  Bart  had,  that  same
evening,  visited  several  lodging  houses.  They
met  with  no  success,  though  the  proprietors  de-
scribed boys  who  bore  a  resemblance  to  Ned,  but
who  had  only  stopped  one  night  and  had  then  dis-
appeared.
We'll  find  him,"  said  William,  more  cheerfully
than  he  felt.
The  two  boys  were  walking  down  a  side  street,
approaching  a  lodging-house  they  intended  to
visit.  It  was  one  they  had  not  yet  inspected.  It
was  about  eight  o'clock  and  was  blowing  up  cold.
There  was  a  feeling  of  snow  in  the  air,  and  the
boys  buttoned  their  coats  closely  around  them.
'  Hope  Ned  doesn't  have  to  stay  out  in  the
storm  like  I  did,"  said  William.
"  So  do  I,"  chimed  in  Bart.  "  I  hate  to  think
about  it."

"  We'll  try  this  place,"  William  went  on,  as
they  reached  the  entrance  to  the  lodging  house.
In  the  hallway  a  gas  jet  burned,  and,  as  the  lads


NED  A  PRISONER  227

started  up  the  stairs,  they  met  a  red  moustached
man  coming  down.  At  the  sight  of  him  William
cried  out:

41  There  he  is!"

"  Who  ?"  asked  Bart.
"  The  man  who  took  Ned  away!  '

The  next  instant  the  two  boys  were  besieging
Cassidy  with  questions.  The  lodging-house  pro-
prietor looked  bewildered  a  moment,  and  then,
gathering  the  import  of  what  they  wanted,  he  ex-
claimed:

'Oh,  you're  chums  of  his,  eh?  Belong  to  the
same  gang  I  s'pose?  Well,  you  can't  come  any
tricks  on  me!  If  that  lad  is  your  chum  he  stays
here  until  he's  worked  out  what  he  owes  me !  '

What  does  he  owe  you  ?  '  demanded  Bart.
