“No, it’s worse than ever. Oh, hang it all, what a chump I’ve been!” exclaimed Bruce. “This thing is worrying the life out of me!”
“Why can’t some of your friends help you?” asked Tom. “If I could——”
“No, thank you, Fairfield, no one can do anything but myself, and I can’t, just now. It may come out all right in the end. Don’t say anything about it. Here we are. Now to see if the door’s open.”
Letting Bruce lead the way, the other lads cautiously followed. They saw him about to try the knob of the basement portal, when suddenly Tom became aware of a light flickering through a side window.
“Hist!” he signalled to Bruce. “Someone’s coming!”
“All right. You fellows lay low, and I’ll take a look,” volunteered their guide. “I don’t mind being caught.”
“He’s got nerve,” said Jack, admiringly, as he and his chums crouched down in the darkness.
Tom and the others saw Bruce boldly look in the window through which the light shone.