"One of those men was Buddy Girk!" ejaculated Tom, when the pair
had passed up the alleyway.

"And don't you know who the other was?" demanded Sam. "It was
Dan Baxter's father!"

"Impossible, Sam. Arnold Baxter is in the hospital, and -"

"It was Dan Baxter's father, as true as I'm born, Tom. No wonder
he walked with a cane! Am I not right, Frank?"

"I don't know, I'm sure I don't remember Dan's father. But that
was Buddy Girk, beyond a doubt."

All of the boys were considerably excited and wondered if it
would be best to follow up the vanishing pair.

"I'd do it if I was certain Dick was safe!" cried Tom. "I'm
going to hunt for him," he added, and before the others could
stop him he entered the tenement. He stumbled around the lower
hallway for several minutes and then called out softly:

"Dick! Dick! Where are you?"

No answer came back, and he continued his search. Then, lighting
a match, he mounted the rickety stairs and called out again.

"Phat are ye a-raisin' such a row about?" demanded an Irish voice
suddenly, and a front room door was thrown open. "Can't ye let a