If he has the ring, why didn't he take it straight to the man in black ?" "Perhaps he knows as little about where to find that individual as we do." "Possibly." They came in sight of the station, about which were several carriages, while a few people were seen on the platform, waiting for the midday train.
Reaching the station, they came sharply round the first corner, and found themselves face to face with Wat Snell and the man in black.
At that very instant Snell accepted some money and surrendered something to the stranger.
Frank's keen eyes saw that the something was the stolen ring.
With a cry, he leaped forward, flinging Snell aside, and grasping the man.
"Give me that ring!" A fierce exclamation of fury broke from the stranger's lips, and he swiftly thrust the ring into his pocket.
"Hands off, boy!" he hoarsely commanded.

"Hands off, or you will get hurt!" "I'll never take my hands off you till you give up that ring, you scoundrel!" The man having encountered Frank before, well knew that the boy possessed remarkable strength, which would not make it an easy thing to shake him off.
"Let go!" he hissed.
"I will not!" "Then take that!" Something bright and gleaming, like the blade of a knife, flashed in the man's hand.

He struck, and with a cry, Frank, fell heavily to the platform!.