Frank, meanwhile, maintained a discreet silence.
It was plainly evident that nothing he could say or do would help matters at all.
"Who was the woman that passed through here just now by the way I came in?"
The detective had seated himself carelessly upon the table, with one foot resting upon the ground.
As he propounded the question he coolly lighted a cigar, and passed one to each of the boys.
"I don't know wot yer mean," replied Barney, with some slight evidence of embarrassment. "Dere's no woman comes in here, is dere, Jerry?"
"Not much!" said Jerry, shortly, as he produced matches and lit his cigar.
"Well, I'll try again. Which of you boys found the box last night?"
He held up the tin box of papers handed him by Frank Mansfield a short time before.
"I found it first. And I gave it to Barney to take care of," replied Jerry. "I picked it up on Rector street, right in front of the bank, after I see'd the burglars run."