“He slipped up on me,” the man whispered. “He’s inside now.”
“Only one?”
“Just one man!” the watchman whispered. “He tapped me on the head and had me gagged before I knew what was happening. Then he bound me. I’m sure there was only one man. He unlocked the door with a key.”
“How long ago?”
“Half an hour or more.”
“Then he’s gone out some other way,” Riley whispered to the others. “He wouldn’t stay in there that long. What’s the matter with headquarters, I wonder? I don’t hear any siren. Here, you, watchman, go down and tell the men, when they come, to surround the block, and send a few in here. We’ll go on in.”
The watchman tottered to the top of the stairs and started down. Riley drew Verbeck and Muggs close to him.
“No lights until we’re sure where we stand,” he instructed. “He may be ready to shoot, if he’s still in there, and a light furnishes a swell target. There’ll be a faint light inside, reflected from the stairs. I know this place. This is the only entrance except a freight elevator at the rear. There are windows, of course, that open into the court. I’m afraid he’s gone that way! Ready? Come on, then, and keep your eyes open!”
Inch by inch Riley swung the glass door open, so as not to make any sound. Inch by inch they crept inside and closed the door again. Here the aisles were covered with thick carpets. An uncertain light came through the door and made the interior of the gem store a mass of shadows.
Before them was the general retail salesroom, with its rows of counters and show cases on either side, and its divans and chairs in the center. Slowly, carefully, holding weapons and torches ready, they crept from shadow to shadow, scarcely daring to breathe, fearing they would make a sound.