Suddenly, outlined in this faint illumination, Joy saw the figure of a man dash away from the house.
As the plebe turned to follow, shouting at the top of his voice, another figure rose up in front of the fugitive and grappled with him.
The two were struggling fiercely when Joy reached the spot. There was light enough for him to recognize in one of the combatants his chum, Clif.
That was enough for the brave lad. Calling out encouragingly, he sprang upon the back of the other.
The cadets found their hands full. The stranger fought like one possessed. He bit and kicked and rained blows upon his antagonists, but they clung to him with unswerving courage until he at last sank to the ground exhausted.
“Bring a rope here, quick!” gasped Clif, as Mr. Windom, accompanied by a number of servants, ran up. “Bring a rope to tie this fellow. We’ve got a prize.”
“My pearls, my pearls!” wailed the old merchant, wringing his hands. “They are gone. I tried to save them, but the robber----”
“We’ve got the robber all right,” interrupted Clif, cheerily. “And there are your pearls over yonder.”
He inclined his head toward an indistinct object lying upon the path. Mr. Windom snatched it up with a cry of joy. It was a bag containing his priceless collection.
The servants returned with a rope and several lanterns. Several of the men assisted the cadets to bind the prisoner, then he was turned over with his face to the light.
Cries of amazement came from all save Clif.
“Great guns!” gasped Joy, “it’s the Englishman! It’s J. Chesire-Cheshire Cate!”
“The would-be assassin!” cried Clif. “Seize him!”
There was a desperate struggle, in the midst of which several neighbors and two mounted policemen arrived.
It was decided not to reveal the identity of the prisoner, for this would have aroused the citizens to the fury of a lawless mob.
So the would-be assassin was locked up as a common burglar.
From Juanita, Clif and Joy learned that it was she who had discovered the presence of the Englishman. She had gone into the library for something, after her father had retired, and had been just in time to see a strange man tiptoeing from her father’s apartments.
She screamed, and the intruder made a dash for the nearest window, and leaped boldly through the sash. It was plain the desperate man had worked quickly.