“Well, it looks just perfect,” Peggy said triumphantly. “Now all we have to do is find out what it’s being used for, expose it, and move in when the crooks move out!”
“I think you’re jumping to conclusions,” Amy said. “It seems to me that the janitor might actually not have known about the theater. After all, it can’t be reached through the building, and if he’s never been told about the back elevator, or never been allowed to use it, he might not know what’s up there.”
“Maybe,” Peggy said doubtfully, “but it seemed to me that he looked awfully guilty about something. I’m sure he’s part of whatever’s going on there.”
Amy protested. “That’s just the point! Maybe there’s nothing going on there! Maybe the janitor doesn’t know about the theater, and it’s not being used by crooks, but just sitting up there empty, gathering dust! Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
“It sure would,” Peggy agreed, “but I don’t think we’re that lucky. Of course we could look up the name of the owner of the building and ask him about the theater, but if it is a crooked game, and if the owner is in on it.... No. I don’t think that’s the way to do it.”
“How do you think we should handle it, then?” Amy asked.
“I think we ought to go back to the place right now,” Peggy said, “before it gets dark. I want to look around that back alley and theater entrance just to see if we can pick up any clues. Then we’ll talk it over with the boys and listen to their ideas.”
“I can believe that you’ll talk it over with them,” Amy laughed, “but I have my doubts about your listening to anybody’s ideas! Still, I said I’d go theater hunting with you, and I’m not going to back out now!”
By the time they had turned in their plans and charts to the file clerk and returned to the loft-theater building, it was almost six o’clock. Most of the trucks that had filled the streets were gone now, not to return until after midnight, when the produce market would open for one more business “day.” A few of the offices, small manufacturing businesses and printing shops that filled the surrounding lofts, were still open, judging by the lights in their windows, but for the most part the streets and buildings were empty in the pearly twilight.
Making every effort to be inconspicuous, the girls ducked down the alley to the rear courtyard entrance of the Starlight Theater. A miniature marquee bearing the name “Mason’s” overhung a short flight of stairs that led up to a loading platform, at the back of which was a wide, high elevator door with pillars on either side. Above it, a plaster arch was decorated with the twin masks of Comus—comedy and tragedy.