the building, he had paused not far away
from the door in question.

"There were two of the fellows, the message said," muttered Dick.
"In that case, I should think one would have been left outside as
a lookout. However, the lookout may be just a little way inside
of the door. It won't do to use my light now. I'll see if I can
slip in and get close to the lookout before the thieves know
there's anyone around."

A step at a time Prescott softly reached the open door. He paused,
listening intently.

"I don't hear a sound in there. I guess I'd better take a few
very soft steps inside, and see if I can discover where the rogues
are. That is, unless they have already bagged their booty, and
have gotten away again."

Just inside of the open door, Dick halted again. He listened,
but there was no sound.

"These scoundrels are surely the original mice for soft moving,"
muttered the boy grimly. "What part of the establishment can
they be in? Hadn't I better slip out and get the police? I can't
learn anything in here unless I use my light."

Yet Prescott didn't want to turn on that flare. The light was
much more likely to show him up to the burglars than to enable
him to find men who were not making a sound.

So Dick penetrated a little further, and a little further, listening.
As he moved he was obliged to grope his way.

At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of
the compass. In this darkness, he was not even sure which was
the way out.

"I'll have to use the flash now," concluded Dick.

Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button
briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second.

"What was that?" muttered the boy, with a start, as the light
went out.

Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps. He was almost certain,
too, that he distinguished the sound of low whispers.

"That flash has scared the rascals," throbbed Dick Prescott.
"Now, if I can only locate 'em, and get out first! I may succeed
in getting the police to the scene before both get away. One
of 'em, anyway, I ought to be able to floor with this heavy cane!"

Transferring the light to his left hand, Dick took a strong grip
of the cane. It did not eyed occur to him to be afraid in here.
He was trying to trap the burglars as a piece of enterprise for
"The Blade," and that was all he thought about.

Suddenly there was a more decided step in the darkness. It sounded,
too, right in