Two or three blocks were passed and they came to the end of a block where, on the corner, was a three-story brick building which did not occupy the whole of the lot on which it was built. Between the end of the house and the adjoining one was a yard of some ten feet in width, which was separated from the street by a high, board fence.
In this fence was a gate, and Lannigan led the way through the gate, standing by to close it after the last one had passed through.
Standing on the other side of the street, Nick saw that there was a closed staircase built on the outside of the house in the rear, by which each floor above the liquor saloon, which occupied the first floor, was reached.
Chick came up and Nick said to him:
“They have gone into that house and by those stairs from the outside.”
“Do we raid them?” asked Chick.
“Yes,” said Nick, sharply; then he added: “But I wish Patsy were here.”
“First,” said Chick, “we ought to look to see what other outlets there are to the house.”
“Go into the barroom,” said Nick, “and see if you can find inside stairways. I’ll take a look about the outside.”