He thought to
take a little advantage of his success, and dodged into a room adjoining
the one where the remarkable scene we have described occurred. He knew
the men were all well done up and would not in their bewilderment be
prepared for the latest trick of the detective. Our hero's friends
descended the stairs, making a great noise, and they kept addressing
themselves to our hero, asking him questions in a loud tone, but he was
not present to answer them. The questions were a part of his scheme to
mislead the men, and his purpose was to overhear what passed between the
men after they supposed that he and his companions had departed. He
relied, as stated, on the demoralization of the scoundrels, and his
position, as it proved, was well taken. The men did assume that he and
his party had departed and they commenced talking, and our hero was at
hand to overhear them talk. Girard was the first speaker.
"Great Scott!" he ejaculated, "who was looking for this? We are
boys--greenhorns--compared to that fellow and a tale is told."
"Yes, a tale is told," said Thatford. "We thought we had everything
dead under cover. We were proceeding in fancied security, but these
fellows have been on our track. This is not the scheme of a night. We
have met a setback that will keep us poor for six months.
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