"Don't take me so quick, Ike. All I intended to convey was that we should be cautious. That house will be under surveillance. It might prove awkward if you were caught sneaking into the old man's place."
"Would you sneak in if you had a plan?"
"To own up square, I would."
"All right; we won't be caught, and if we do, with your brave aid we'll get out of the scrape. I've an idea—a very funny one. I won't tell it to you now, or even you might call me a crank. But I tell you, I am going to take big chances and get into the old man's house on the sly, in spite of the police, detectives and every one else. I've a scheme."
The two lads arrived in the vicinity of the house and scanned the surroundings very carefully, and as they walked away Ike said:
"We have a chance for a joke on hand, Jack."
"Yes, I am on to it."
"What are you on to?"
"We have been spotted and a detective is on our track."