“That is just what I am getting on to. I will know one of those times. We can have our plans all laid and ‘nip’ the ‘swag’ easy.”
“Well,” was the thought that ran through Ike’s mind. “I am getting into a few complications by following those two men last night. I’ve opened up a nest of crime.” He lay low and heard considerable more talk; indeed, the full details of a plan to rob a safe of a great banking house, and he had about taken it all in when suddenly a heavy hand was laid on his shoulder, and a gruff voice with an oath demanded:
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s all up with me,” was the mental conclusion of our hero, who declined to make a reply to the inquiry. Indeed he had no time for replies. He needed his thoughts to meet the emergency.
The man’s voice evidently aroused the fellows inside the room, and the door was opened and Ike in his stocking feet was forced into the room and confronted the conspirators. The men stared with looks of amazement upon their faces when the man who had captured Ike demanded:
“What have you fellows been discussing here?”
The evident leader of the gang took in the situation and he was a quick-witted man. He answered:
“Oh, we have been discussing a new play we are going to bring out. We think it a good scheme to make it realistic and introduce a real burglar scene.”
The man who had asked the question laughed and said:
“You have had an audience during your rehearsal.”