"You know what we want," exclaimed the leader, in a low voice.
"We want that cash you got from the bank, and we're going to have
it! Come, now, shell out!" and he advanced toward the automobile.




CHAPTER XX ON TIME


Close around the electric auto crowded the members of the
hold-up gang. Their eyes seemed to glare through the holes in
their black masks. Instantly Tom thought of the other occasion
when he was halted by masked figures. Could these, by any
possibility, be the same individuals? Was this a trick of Andy
Foger and his cronies?

Tom tried to pierce through the disguises. Clearly the persons
were men--not boys--and they wore the ragged clothes of tramps.
Also, there was an air of dogged determination about them.

"Well, are you going to shell out?" asked the leader, taking a
step nearer, "or will we have to take it?"

"Bless my very existence! You don't mean to say that you're
going to take the money--I mean how do you know we have any
money?" and Mr. Damon hastily corrected himself. "What right have
you to stop us in this way? Don't you know that every minute
counts? We are in a hurry."