This time they broke in the door without ado. At his first glance inside Jack saw that the room had been visited. Though he had been away but little more than half an hour, a clean sweep had been made of the cards and papers. A still smoldering fire in the grate showed the manner of their disposal. The window on the fire escape was open.
"He was inside when you got here!" cried Jack. "He heard you outside. Now he's given us the slip again. Why didn't you watch the back windows!"
The city detectives looked distinctly aggrieved. The spokesman for the pair said: "How did we know what your game was?"
"You knew!" said Jack to Tommy.
Tommy hung his head. "When I came back, and found you gone, I didn't know rightly what to do," he muttered.
Jack saw that it was really nobody's fault. "Oh, well, we'll have to try again," he said.
"You should have called on us sooner," said the principal detective condescendingly.
"Sorry, I didn't," said Jack dryly.
The other missed the note of irony. "Well, lay out your case to us now, and we'll give you some experienced advice."
Somehow the manner of this well-meaning gentleman did not inspire Jack with overmuch confidence as to his perspicacity. Moreover, since his man and his evidence were both gone, he saw nothing to be gained by consulting the police.