“Go on! This is the first time I’ve held the light to-night. It’s all your fault! Now we’ve either got to call it off or work by the use of matches. We can’t see to get the right papers in the dark.”
“Wait a minute. I have a scheme,” suggested Denton. “I saw a lamp on the table right here. I’ll light that.”
“If it’s got any oil in it,” half-sneered Harrison.
“Oh, they keep their lamps filled I reckon. Stand still now, and I’ll light it.”
Denton struck a match, found the lamp and presently had the wick aglow.
“Turn it down, you chump!” hoarsely whispered Harrison. “That can be seen from outside.”
Denton lowered the wick until the light was dim, but even then it was better to work by than had been the electric torch, for the illumination was more diffused.
Denton went to work with the keys again, and luck seemed to be with him, for after two trials the desk was opened. It was the work of but a few minutes for the men to sort over the papers and pick out those they wanted.
“Now we’ve got ’em!” exclaimed Denton. “I guess he’ll talk business to us now!”
“We won’t bother to talk business, now we’ve got what we want,” answered Harrison. “We’ll just light out. But before we go we might as well have this. No use passing up a chance like this.”