Tom Gray had whipped out a small pistol and pointed it straight at David's head.
"Get out of here, quick!" he said just as Grace opened the table cloth with a jerk and flung it over his head.

A pistol shot rang out, but David had dodged in time and the bullet was buried in the mahogany wainscot back of him.

The astonished burglar dropped the weapon, and began to struggle violently to release himself.
Instantly David pinioned his arms from the back.

But the fellow might even then have struggled free, if Reddy Brooks and Hippy Wingate had not burst into the room, followed by Anne, who had roused them after Grace had gone.

The three boys swiftly overpowered Tom Gray and tied him to a chair with cord Grace had found in the pantry.
But now, what was to be done?
Undoubtedly the noise would awaken Mrs.
Gray and she would have to be told that her nephew was a burglar about to make off with the family silver.
Perhaps the loss of the silver would hurt less than family disgrace.
In the midst of their council Mrs.Gray herself appeared.
"What in the world is the matter ?" she demanded.
No one replied for a moment.