"I do not entirely disbelieve you," she said, "but I most certainly will not give you the pin----"
"You interrupted me! I was about to say I will not give it to you, even after my return home."
Evading the pointed pistol by a quick jump, Pollock dashed it from Iris' hand, having really caught her off her guard as she grew interested in their conversation. The driver, Bob, sprang toward them both, and they seized Iris between them.
A terrific scream from the girl rang through the silent woods and as the pistol struck the ground it went off with a fairly loud report.
Iris felt her senses going as the two men clutched her roughly, but managed, in spite of a restraining hand, to give another loud scream.
And it was these sounds that guided Fibsy's flying feet toward the scene of conflict.
He had come with Stone in the car that the detective had used to follow Iris from Pellbrook, but as no one knew which way to look for the kidnapper's car, they had separated, and Stone with Campbell went hunting the highroads, while Fibsy, scenting the truth, had dived into the wood.
He had heard Iris' last scream, also the noise of the automatic, and he blew a loud blast on a shrill whistle, as he hurried to the girl.
Nearing the three, Fibsy's quick eyes saw the pistol on the ground, and he snatched it up, and aimed it straight at the masked man.
"Hands up!" he cried, and Pollock turned to see a small but dauntless-looking boy threatening him.
Again endangered by his own firearm, Pollock stood at bay, raging but impotent in the face of the steady aim of the boy.
In another moment Stone came, with Campbell, in the Pell car and Iris breathed freely once more, as she felt stealthily for the pin in her belt ribbon. It was safe, and she sank down on the ground, satisfied to let the newcomers take charge of the whole matter.
This they did with neatness and dispatch.
Bidding Fibsy keep the two men covered with the small but efficacious weapon, Stone and Campbell tied the hands of Pollock and his man Bob, using the dustrobe from Pollock's car, cut into strips for the purpose.
Then they bundled them unceremoniously into their own car and Stone himself took the wheel.
Campbell drove Iris home, but Fibsy traveled with his chief.