That shuddering, sickening sound echoed out. It reminded Ralph of the noise made by a boy playing with a big lump of clay, and spatting it violently against a wooden fence.
He saw Bemis fall back with a roar of awful pain. In that fleeting glimpse, it looked to Ralph as if Mort’s face had been flattened out from ear to ear. His nose seemed to have disappeared In its place was a vague red blotch of color.
Bemis fell flat backwards, his head striking a chair and smashing off its arm.
Ike Slump had already dropped Ralph’s hand. With a sharp cry of alarm he tried to dodge back.
Again that great fist swung forward. Ralph turned pale, and he felt his flesh creep.
As he looked, he saw Ike Slump reeling. There was a ghostly grin on his face. His whole lower row of teeth was gone.
"I said I’d do it," spoke Ralph’s rescuer and the assailant of his enemies, "and I’ve kept my word."
Young Slavin proceeded to liberate Ralph from the ropes that bound him.
Ralph was faint and dizzy-headed with all that had transpired in the last twenty minutes.
He felt that he had been in the peril of his life. He bestowed a look of immense gratitude on Slavin.
"You came in time," said he. "How shall I ever thank you?"
"Cut it out," growled Slavin grimly. "I ain’t through yet. I’ve been watching these skunks for an hour or more. I knew that Stiggs, who has gone on a little jaunt with his wife to see some relations, would never give those reptiles the free run of his house. I fancied burglary at first. Then when you came I knew it was something deeper. Well, it’s the finishing touch. I suppose, in your usual soft-hearted way, you want to beg them off from further punishment, don’t you?"
"It strikes me they have got about all the punishment they can stand at present," suggested Ralph.
"O, that’s just a starter," announced Slavin. "Keep your eye on Slump for a minute."
Ike had fallen across the sofa. He was moaning and half-stunned. He kept moving his hand over his bare and tingling gums, making a horrible, hollow, hissing sound every time his breath exuded.
"The dentist for you," said Slavin in cold unconcern. "This one is delegated to the hospital, I guess."
The speaker approached the prostrate Bemis.
"Speak up, there," growled Slavin savagely. "I’ve a little business with you, Mort Bemis. Where are those two silver medals that you stole from me?"