“Hello!” he muttered, stopping as the others came up behind him. “Look at this!”
There was a padlock on the door, securing it by means of a staple and clasp.
“My deduction is,” said Piper, “that the den is deserted and the miscreant flown.”
“He’s sus-skipped already,” said Springer.
Investigation revealed that the padlock was really locked. Then they peered in through the dingy window, and, their eyes after a time becoming accustomed to the gloomy interior, they saw beyond question that no living person was there.
“He hasn’t been gone long,” decided Barker disappointedly, “for the smoke proves that. There’s still a smoldering fire in the old stove.”
“Let’s bub-bust the door open and look the place over,” suggested Springer.
“Let me hasten to caution you against such a proceeding,” interposed Sleuth, as Barker seemed to hesitate. “The complete details of our morning’s work will doubtless be laid before the public eye, and we must take every precaution not to perpetrate any act that will rebound to our discredit. Let it not be said that, like the owner of this den of iniquity, we broke and entered.”
“It wouldn’t do any good, anyhow,” said Berlin. “We couldn’t learn anything further, and I feel certain I already have the proof that will nail the sneak fast.”
“What are you going to do about it?” questioned Phil.