for it would
only be a hindrance in his movements in getting into the house.

After a few moments he reached the top of the stairs, and with his ear
pressed to the door, listened for sounds that would tell him whether or
not the kitchen was occupied. He heard nothing, and then bent to where
the latch pierced the door. He could see no bit of light shining through
the small crevice, and then carefully raised the latch, taking nearly a
minute to do so, that it might give no sharp, warning click.

The latch once raised, he pushed the door open carefully, shoving it
barely a fraction of an inch at a time.

After what seemed almost ages, Garry stepped into the kitchen. He knew
it was dangerous to press the button on his flashlamp, but there was
nothing else to be done, for he could not go moving through the dark,
taking the chance of crashing into a chair or table, and thus
advertising his presence in the house.

Throwing the beam of light sweeping along the floor for an instant, and
concentrating with all his might, he impressed on his mind a mental
picture of the interior of the room, noting two doors and locating the
various pieces of furniture in the kitchen.

His next act was to untie hastily the strings of his shoepacks, and
slipping out the footgear, knotted the laces and strung the shoepacks
about his neck. He was now able to move noiselessly.

Standing silently, he listened. He could hear the murmur of voices
beyond one of the doors. His heart leaped, for there were probably the
plotters. He crept to the door, and listened, but could make out nothing
of what was being said. Only an indistinct murmur reached his ears.

It would be foolhardy to try and open the door, for he could not hope to
do it without letting those in the room know it, even with all the luck
in the world.

Garry was stumped. He began to wish that he had taken a chance and
approached the house from the outside, trusting to fortune to get to a
window through which he might both see and hear.

The boy stood for a moment and debated as to what was the best course to
pursue, whether to go back through the passage and try and approach
from the outside, or what.

Then he recollected the other door. Knowing that the construction of old
New England houses generally called for a front and back stairs, he
guessed that this other door would lead to the upper part of the house.

Noiselessly crossing the floor, he cautiously opened the door, and foun