"What did I just tell you?" says Ptomaine to me triumphantly. "I knew them guys would—"
"Shut up!" I cut him off harshly, and turn to Eva: "Tell me all about this and make it snappy!" I commands. "When did this happen?"
"Not ten minutes ago," says Eva tearfully. "We—Mister Eversley and me—were walking in the forest near the inn, when without warning a dozen or more men suddenly sprang out from behind the trees and attacked him. He had no chance at all to fight them off—there were too many for him, and he had been taken by surprise. They didn't harm me—in fact, they paid no attention to me at all—and when they overpowered poor Mister Eversley and carried him off I rushed right back here to tell you!"
"You done right!' I says, pattin' her back. Then I reached in the bureau drawer and took out my gat. It's a army .45 automatic, and you could blow up Boston with it!
"Who was these kidnappers, d'ye know?" I ask Eva, who shudders and covers her pretty face with her little white hands when she sees the gun.
"They were masked," she tells me. "But I—I think I recognized some of them."
"I think you did too!" growls Ptomaine, tightenin' up his belt and flexin' his mighty arms. "But don't let 'em worry you. When we get done with them guys their own lovin' parents won't be able to recognize 'em!"
"C'mon, let's go!" I says. "And all you got to do, Miss Littleton, is tell us exactly where this abduction
