ir stealthy way, and in five minutes stood in front of Joe's
restaurant.

CHAPTER XXII

CHECKMATED

Everything looked favorable for their plans. Of course, the
restaurant was perfectly dark, and the street was quite deserted.

"How shall we get in?" asked Hogan of his more experienced accomplice.

"No trouble--through the winder."

Rafferty had served an apprenticeship at the burglar's trade, and was
not long in opening the front window. He had no light and could not
see that Joe had a companion. If he had discovered this, he would
have been more cautious.

"Go in and get the money," said he to Hogan.

He thought it possible that Hogan might object, but the latter had a
reason for consenting. He thought he might obtain for himself the
lion's share of the plunder, while, as to risk, there would be no one
but Joe to cope with, and Hogan knew that in physical strength he
must be more than a match for a boy of sixteen.

"All right!" said Hogan. "You stay at the window and give the alarm
if we are seen."

Rafferty was prompted by a suspicion of Hogan's good faith in the
proposal he made to him. His ready compliance lulled this suspicion,
and led him to reflect that, perhaps, he could do the work better
himself.

"No," said he. "I'll go in and you keep watch at the winder."

"I'm willing to go in," said Hogan, fearing that he would not get his
fair share of the plunder.

"You stay where you are, pard!" said Rafferty, in a tone of command.
"I'll manage this thing myself."

"Just as you say," said Hogan, slightly disappointed.

Rafferty clambered into the room, making as little noise as possible.
He stood still a moment, to accustom his eyes to the darkness. His
plan was to discover where Joe lay, wake him up, and force him, by
threats of instant death as the penalty for non-compliance, to
deliver up all the money he had in the restaurant.

Now, it happened that Joe and his guest slept in opposite corners of
the room. Rafferty discovered Joe, but was entirely ignorant of the
presence of another person in the apartment.

Joe waked on being rudely shaken.

"Who is it?" he muttered drowsily.

"Never mind who it is!" growled Jack in his ear. "It's a man that'll
kill you if you don't give up all the money you've got about you!"

Joe was fully awake now, and realized the situation. He felt
thankful that he was not alone, and it instantly flashed upon him
that Watson had a revolver. But Watson wa