From its position on the grounds and from the style of its lamps, Curt guessed it was the runabout used by Mr. Parsons, Tredway’s remaining partner. What was he doing here? Where was he going? Curt, in the office doorway, not daring to emerge because of the beams of light that might swing around the yard at any moment, heard the voice of Parsons hailing the watchman, questioning him. The other replied in a way to show he had not heard any noises, could not account for them.
Curt, as the car got under way and the main gate was flung wide to permit it to depart, raced around the office building “ell” and across to his bicycle. He knew he could not pursue, but the wheel would give an excuse for emerging from that gate at once.
“Wait!” he called to the watchman, pedaling swiftly across to him. “I guess he forgot I was here,” pretending that Mr. Parsons sponsored his presence there so late at night. The watchman said nothing but held the gates open until Curt pedaled through and took his way after the car, not to keep it in sight but to see if it went to its owner’s home.
Al, ignorant that he was the only remaining member of the Sky Squad, watched tensely and listened alertly beside the supply room door. He heard nothing. Cautiously he protruded his head around the door jamb.
The room was silent, evidently the man was hiding or—“gone!”
“But how—where—could he go?” Al answered his own questions at once, for the window, made of tiny panes of thick glass between heavy bars, locked always from inside, impossible to open from outside, was not tightly shut.
For once in his life Al paused to think before he acted.
That window was not tightly shut. He had heard it opened, and—closed. But if the man had closed it from within the room he would have pulled it down tightly. He had not done so. He had left it partly open—why? To provide a way to come back, Al decided.
Almost at the same instant it flashed into his head that if he were to be caught in that room, with its door unfastened, he would be accused by any of the plant members, the watchman or those he thought were still in the upstairs offices, of stealing whatever might be missing.
He had a plan, at once!