"Iss dot so?" cried Carl, excitedly. "Vell, I ditn't see him, und dot's righdt. I vas drying so hardt as anyt'ing to ged indo der house."
"I heard you tryin' to break in the door. Don't you know it's against the law to do that?"
"I don'd care for der law! My bard vent indo dot house und left me to vait. Ven I vait plendy long enough for him und he don'd come, den I make some infestigations. No vone answers my knock on der door, und for vy iss dot?"
"You say a friend of yours is in the house?"
"Sure! Don'd I vas delling you?"
"When did he go in?"
"Haluf oof an hour ago—all oof dot."
The officer began questioning Carl and got from him pretty near the whole of the affair—Matt's name and occupation, the experience with the air-ship in the early part of the afternoon, nearly everything concerning the roll of papers, the receipt of the telegram, and the night visit of the boys to South Chicago.
This policeman was an intelligent member of the force, and he at once concluded that here was a matter which called for official investigation.
"We'll get into the house and find out about your friend," said he. "Your yarn is a queer one, but has the true ring, and it's evident there's shady work of some kind going on."