And the only door to the structure was the one which they had foolishly entered. Outside that door Jim Heron kept his eagle eyes alert.
“We’re in a nice trap!” whispered Prim. “How did we ever happen to get into a jam like this?” Prim’s face was deathly pale.
“Now Prim, don’t get panicky! There must be a way out!” comforted Terry. “It isn’t reasonable to think that we can be kept here as prisoners. And look at that old man,” exclaimed the girl, pointing through the narrow opening. “He’s grinning as if he’d done something smart. That’s what makes me wild. I hate to have anything put over on me!”
The girls stood with their arms around each other as they watched Jim Heron whose broad grin displayed his brown snaggle teeth.
“I wish he’d scowl,” said Prim. “He doesn’t look half as mean and sly as when he laughs. I wonder what he’s thinking about?”
“I can tell you that!” exploded Terry. “He’s thinking that we’re just a couple of dumb-bells, walking right into the trap that he and Bud Hyslop set for us. There is only one thing to do, Prim. We must get out of here!”
“But how, Terry?” asked her sister anxiously. “Don’t take chances. You know Dad wouldn’t like that.”
“Well, what’s to prevent us from just walking out past the old man? He wouldn’t _dare_ to shoot us. It’s worth trying. Come on!”
“Don’t, Terry! Please don’t do that. It isn’t safe!”
“I’m going to try it, anyway. Now listen, Prim, I’ll go ahead and you follow. Don’t lag, keep right on my heels.”
With head held high, Terry walked boldly to the door and threw it open.
But Jim Heron had leaped to his feet and stood facing her. With an angry snarl he commanded, “Get back there. In you go!”
Terry stood her ground. “I just wanted to stay outside where the air was cool. Anyway I want to talk to you!”
But Jim Heron thrust out a horny hand and shoved the girl inside. Raising his gun to his shoulder he pointed it menacingly at Terry as the girl started once more toward the open door. Sally dragged the girl back and shut the door.
“Don’t go, Terry! Come here! You don’t know Jim Heron,” Sally whispered. “He’d just as soon shoot you as not. Bud Hyslop probably gave him money to keep you locked up and after that he’d kill you rather than let you go. He’d do anything for money.”