“But it would have hung opposite the bedroom window,” said Chick, gazing down.
“He could easily have swung himself to the bathroom window.”
“Gee! it would have been some stunt, chief, in the wind and darkness,” said Patsy.
“We are up against rascals capable of more desperate deeds than that,” Nick declared. “I think we now can learn where they came from and what more they did. Come with me.”
Quickly crossing the roof, Nick approached the edge overlooking the roof of the corner residence. The latter was only five feet below, with no space between them, and he immediately dropped over the edge, followed by Chick and Patsy.
Nearly in the middle of the roof was a square skylight, to which all three hastened, and through which Nick peered intently. He could see only part of the upper hall some eight feet below and the closed doors of two adjoining rooms.
“By Jove, we are on the right track,” Chick remarked. “This skylight has been recently opened.”
He pointed to some blurred finger marks in the dust on the panes and sashes, and Nick drew a knife from his pocket with which to force open the slightly sloping window.
“I’m so sure I am right that we will not stand on ceremony,” he said, a bit grimly. “The birds have flown. The house probably is deserted. The plunder we are seeking has been carried away under our very noses.”
“You don’t mean in that undertaker’s wagon, chief?” cried Patsy.