CHAPTER XXV
WHAT HAPPENED TO TOM
Tom glanced up, to see the white face of Jesse Pelter peering down upon him.
"You had better let us out of this!" cried the broker, hoarsely.
"You stay where you are—if you know what is best for you!" returned Tom.
"Is he dead?" went on the broker, referring to Crabtree.
"I don't know."
The youth ran up to the former school teacher and turned him over. As he did this Josiah Crabtree gave a gasp and a groan and opened his eyes.
"Oh! Oh! what a—a fa—fall!"
"If you hadn't tried to get away it wouldn't have happened," returned Tom, briefly. He could have but little sympathy for such a hardened rascal.
Josiah Crabtree sat up and then tried to get to his feet. There was a cut on his forehead from which the blood was flowing.
249
