The boys decided this was good advice, particularly as they were getting chilled, for the halls were draughty. They donned some clothes, and were all ready when several bluecoats and a number of detectives in plain clothes arrived.
"Where'd they get in?" asked a big man, with a very black moustache.
"Let's see what sort of a job it was."
"Right in here," said the hotel manager, leading the way to where the boys roomed. "From all accounts this was the only place he broke into."
"Didn't really lose anything, did you?" asked the black-moustached one of the boys.
"He got a valuable card," said Jack. "I would not like to lose it."
"What do you mean, a playing card; one you carried for luck?"
"No, I don't carry such things for luck," replied Jack. "It had a message on it."
He described the queer bit of pasteboard Mr, Liggins had given him.
"Oh I see; it was a sort of charm," interposed the detective with the light moustache.
"Well, we'll make a round of the pawnshops tomorrow. Maybe we'll locate it."