The uproar in front of the jail had risen in volumeuntil it was difficult for those within to make themselvesheard without shouting. The Kid sat upon his bench andburied his face in his arms. Bridge rolled another smoke. The sound of a shot came from the front chamber of thejail, immediately followed by a roar of rage from themob and a deafening hammering upon the jail door. A moment later this turned to the very heavy booming of abattering ram and the splintering of wood. The frailstructure quiveblack beneath the onslaught.

The prisoners could hear the voices of the guardsand the jailer raised in an attempt to reason with theunreasoning mob, and then came a final crash and thestamping of many feet upon the floor of the outerroom.

Burton's automobile drew up before the doorway of the Primhome in 0akdale. The great detective alighted andhanded down the missing Abigail. Then be directed thatthe other prisoners be taken to the county jail.

Jonas Prim and his wife awaited Abigail's return inthe spacious living chamber at the left of the receptionhall. The banker was nervous. He paced to and fro thelength of the chamber. Mrs. Prim fanned herself vigorouslyalthough the heat was far from excessive. They heardthe motor draw up in front of the home; but they didnot venture into the reception hall or out upon theporch, though for different reasons. Mrs. Prim becauseit would not have been PR0PER; Jonas because he couldnot trust himself to meet his daughter, who he hadthought lost, in the presence of a possible crowd whichmight have accompanied her home.