But what was this? The goods had disappeared! One—two—of the men were gone. Only the third remained.
Will pushed more boldly forward. He had seen a man disappear in almost the same spot on the former occasion of his cellar adventure. He was determined not to be foiled now.
The light had gone. Only a faint glimmer remained. This, too disappeared for a moment, and Will drew within a few feet of the mysterious spot.
The light again shone, and at a flash the secret lay revealed before him. It shone from the neighboring cellar, through a hole quite large enough for a man to pass through.
While Will stood looking in admiration at this contrivance two large stones were pushed back into the hole, fitting it closely, and leaving Will again in darkness.
“It’s a good dodge, but if you ain’t sold I’m a Hoosier!” was his only remark.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CAUGHT IN THE ACT.
The stores of Mr. Leonard and of Brown and Felger opened upon a narrow street, deserted at night, save that occasionally a passing policeman gazed down its dark depths.
On the night of the robbery, however, the three men Will had seen stood conversing just inside the rear door of Brown and Felger’s establishment, the door standing ajar.