him, now that I've got him."

"Can't help it, Mallory. When that man reports to his employer, I want him
to say that we suspect nothing beyond his attempt to crack the safe."

The detective turned away with a frown.

"I suppose you know your business, Mr. West."

Harvey and Mattison followed him to the hall, closing the door after them.
They said good night, and left the building.

"See here, West," said Mattison, when they were fairly around the corner,
"wasn't that a little hasty? It wouldn't hurt to keep the man out of the
way."

"No, I don't agree with you. What McNally has done so far will be upheld
by his judge. And another thing, Mattison; just at present, it isn't to
our interest to get an investigation under way. We're going to do the same
thing ourselves."

Slowly and cautiously they slipped around the next square, and, by
returning through the alley, brought up in the shadow of a building,
across the street from the train shed. Here they waited to reconnoitre.
The night was clear, and the arc-lamp at the corner threw an intermittent
glare down the street. As they looked, a long shadow appeared on the
sidewalk. Mattison gripped Harvey's arm, and drew him back into the alley.
They crouched behind a pile of boxes.

"It's like stealing apples," whispered Harvey. "When the old man gets