"You two are lively on your feet," he said. "And it is a good deal better
for you to do it."

"How about the detectives?" asked Mattison.

"You'll have to keep out of their way. Mallory won't trouble you so long
as you keep still; but remember, every man, detective or not, that catches
you, makes one more chance for evidence against us."

"But isn't the building surrounded?"

"No. There's only one man outside, and he is in front. You can go through
the alley and climb up to the window--it's only the second floor. Mallory
has orders to keep out of the vault room. He's over in your office,
Mattison."

"I suppose," suggested Harvey, "that unless we are actually caught with
the books, we can throw a bluff about a tour of inspection or something of
that sort."

"And if we are caught," said Mattison, "I suppose we can run like the
devil."

"You'll have to trust the details more or less to circumstances," was
Jim's reply.

"How about the books?" asked Harvey. "What shall we do with them?"

"Mattison had better take care of them. We can't bring them to the hotel,