but Harvey gave no heed. He ran to the window and literally fell down the
ladder, filling his hands with slivers. There came a crash from above, and
a muttered oath, and Harvey knew that the door had given way. He gave the
ladder a shove, and as it fell upon the cobblestones with a great noise,
he turned and sped up the alley after a dark figure that was already near
to the corner.

He caught up with Mattison in the next block, and relieved him of half the
load. Then for a long time they ran and doubled, fugitives from half a
dozen detectives and a few lumbering policemen. At last Mattison turned up
a dark alley in the residence district. Coming to a board fence, he threw
the books over, then climbed after. Harvey followed, and found himself on
a tennis court. Mattison led the way through the yard, past a dark house,
and across the street to a roomy frame residence.

"Come in with me," he said to Harvey. "You can't go back to the hotel
now."

Harvey laughed nervously and nodded. Mattison opened the door with his
night key, and with the heavy books in their arms the two burglars stole
up to bed.




CHAPTER XI


A POLITICIAN