Two minutes later Ted was in Room 418. Walker joined them almost at the same time.
Ted was introduced to the man to whom he had sold a paper a little earlier and then the party got down to business.
“Walker, jump down and try the door,” said Strong. “Here is the key.”
But a new problem presented itself when Walker reported back that the key would not fit the lock and Strong, incredulous, had proven the truth of it for himself.
“Phew!” whistled Strong. “They must have changed the lock. They figured the old one was too easy for anyone who had a mind to enter. Come on, Walker, we’ll try the window.”
But they found no way of entering 53 through the window. It was securely fastened. Walker, with one foot on the edge of the fire-escape and the other on the ledge of the next room’s window and holding himself secure with one hand, attempted to open that window also, but found it just as securely locked.
“There is still one way before we think of any rough stuff,” said Strong. With the other three he went down to the third floor.
“Here, Ted, get on my shoulders and try the fanlight. Let’s pray that it opens.”
It opened so very easily that they all laughed. But they found that neither Walker, Strong nor Bronson could get through. But Ted could.
“Well,” said Bronson, “I reckon it’s up to the boy, isn’t it?”