skirmish around a bit, anyhow."

They retraced their steps slowly, and passing the house where the man
had entered, took careful note of it.

It was a two-story building. Steps led to a porch, not high above the
street, but still high enough to make the single window in front beyond
reach from the street below. A narrow passage was between it and the
house on the left. It was built flush against the house on the right.

At the corner the lads again turned and retraced their steps. "I'm going
to try the door," said Jack. "You slink back in that dark alleyway until
you hear from me."

Frank signified that he understood, and passing the house, did as Jack
had instructed, the latter mounting the steps quietly and swiftly.

The lad laid a hand on the knob and turned it. Then he pushed on the
door, but it held fast.

"Locked," he said, plainly disappointed.

There was no window in the little vestibule and the single front window
was beyond reach from the porch. Neither was there a transom that could
be forced.

"No means of getting in here," Jack told himself.

He descended the steps and joined Frank in the alleyway.

"Well?" Frank greeted him.

Jack shook his head.

"Can't get in that way," he said.

"Well," said Frank, "I have been doing a little exploring while you were
up there and I have found a way."

"How?" asked Jack, a little surprised.

For answer, Frank motioned to a little aperture in the side of the
house, close to the ground.

"Window into the basement," he explained. "It's open."

Jack wasted no time. He dropped to his hands and knees and, pushing the
window open, shoved his feet through. Then he wriggled his body through
the opening and dropped.

It was not a hard fall and he picked himself up unhurt. He called softly
to Frank and the latter was beside him a moment later. Walking softly,
Jack led the way up a little flight of stairs to a door which opened
easily. He stepped inside.

Frank followed and Jack closed the door. It was perfectly dark.

But suddenly the darkness was lighted up. The astonished lads gazed into
the muzzles of a pair of automatics and a well-known voice cried:

"Hands up!"

CHAPTER XXIV.

ANOTHER UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.

To say that the lads were astonished is putting it mildly. There they
were, so they believed, sneaking upon an unsuspecting victim and now
they found themselves absolutely in that victim's power, for it took but
the first glance to as