The same thoroughness was observed on the second floor, but no hint of whom the intruders might be was brought to light. It took some time to go over all the smaller rooms, and, when every nook had been finally explored, Cora sat down for a moment on the hall seat.
“Listen!” she whispered.
A sound from the dining room had caught her attention.
“It’s the girls,” said Walter, as he, too, heard something downstairs.
“They would never come in until we assured them everything was all right,” objected Cora.
“Let’s go down,” said Ed, at the same moment, almost falling over the bannister in his haste to get down quickly.
“There they go!” called Walter, who was just back of Jack, and, as he said this, a figure darted out the rear door, and made away, before the boys could get out of the house to follow.
“This way!” shouted Jack to Ed, as they finally did reach the open yard. “I saw them go over that fence.”
A light from the street at the rear of the cottage was now to be seen.
“An auto!” yelled Ed. “They are ready to start! Quick, Walter! Head them off at the corner!”