"You've confederates here, have you?" demanded Simmons, fixing his suspicious gaze on the boy. "Judkins, you watch Prescott—-and mind you don't let him give you the slip. The rest of us will keep on going through this store. You say you think there are others here, Prescott?"
"I think so," replied the boy.
Chief Simmons raised his voice.
"If there's anyone here——-" he called.
"There is!" came back in a tone that made Dick Prescott start and throb with alarm.
"Who—-where—-" asked Chief Simmons, excitedly.
"Right here!" came the voice. "Hold your lights on me!"
Two flash-lights at once centered their rays on the speaker, and
Dave Darrin bounded forward into the light.
"So you two have been working this thing as side partners, have you?" asked Chief Simmons harshly. "Great Scott, how you've fooled us, then! Like everyone else, we believed you two boys to be straight. Tell me," commanded Simmons dryly, "is Editor Pollock in this store-robbing gang, too?"
"Ask Mr. Pollock yourself," Dave flung back.