Cautiously ascending the steps he found himself on a landing which was below a door closed and, as he quickly found, locked.
A trial of it satisfied him that it was not bolted, and as the lock was of the ordinary kind he had no difficulty in picking it.
In this it differed from the one at the foot of the stairs, which had no keyhole on the outside.
Cautiously opening this door, he found that he was in a small-sized entry—so small, indeed, that it was almost impossible to stand within it, and shut the door again. On his right was another door, which was doubtless always opened before the outer door was closed.
But by dint of squeezing himself into the corner Nick succeeded in closing the door and with his pick relocking it.
Then he cautiously opened the door before him to find that it was a bedroom, and vacant.
Stepping within it lightly, he listened and heard voices in the room in front. There were two doors in this room, one clearly communicating with the front room, and the other, Nick thought, might open into a closet. But, on trying it, he found it opened into the hall of the second story, and saw Chick standing at the head of the stairs waiting to give the signal which should announce his presence there.
Nick beckoned to Chick, who came stealthily to the door.
“They are in that front room on this floor, chief,” said Chick. “There is nobody upstairs, for I have been through that floor. I have barricaded the top of the stairs so they cannot escape that way.”
“All right,” said Nick. “Now take your stand at that door leading from the bedroom. I will leave this door open and when you hear me mew like a cat, burst into the room.”