“We are up against rascals capable of more desperate deeds than that,” Nick declared. “I think we now can learn where they came from and what more they did. Come with me.” Quickly crossing the roof, Nick approached the edge overlooking the roof of the corner residence. The latter was only five feet below, with no space between them, and he immediately dropped over the edge, followed by Chick and Patsy. Nearly in the middle of the roof was a square skylight, to which all three hastened, and through which Nick peered intently. He could see only part of the upper hall some eight feet below and the closed doors of two adjoining rooms. “By Jove, we are on the right track,” Chick remarked. “This skylight has been recently opened.” He pointed to some blurred finger marks in the dust on the panes and sashes, and Nick drew a knife from his pocket with which to force open the slightly sloping window. “I’m so sure I am right that we will not stand on ceremony,” he said, a bit grimly. “The birds have flown. The house probably is deserted. The plunder we are seeking has been carried away under our very noses.” “You don’t mean in that undertaker’s wagon, chief?” cried Patsy. “That’s precisely what I mean.” “Gee whiz! The death of the housekeeper then----” “There has been no death,” Nick interrupted, all the while at work trying to pry open the skylight. “The whole business is a craftily planned job, from the time Gerald Vaughn, so called, met Colonel Barker in Berlin, if he really did meet him there, and learned that this house was to be vacant for several months. We’ll soon find out whether I am right and--ah, now it gives. Lend a hand, Chick, and we can raise it.” Nick had contrived to partly remove the hook that secured the skylight, and it then proved easy to raise the latter. “Close it after us, Patsy, and return by the way we came,” Nick directed. “Say nothing about what we have found and are doing. Go down to the front door of this house and wait for me to admit you.” “I’m wise, chief,” said Patsy. “I’ll nail any one who attempts to leave.” “There is no one in the house,” Nick repeated. “I’m sure of that. Come with me, Chick.” He turned with the last and dropped down to the upper hall, Chick quickly following him. “We’ll cover the ground as we go,” he added. “These rooms, Chick, to begin with.” They found in the first one they entered the evidence confirming Nick’s deductions and suspicions--a piece of joist about ten feet long, a sawhorse fixed on a baseboard, that had been secured to the upper edge of the roof, a coil of rope, a block and tackle, a broad wicker basket nearly three feet long, to each end handle of which was tied a long hemp cord. “Great guns, this does settle it!” Chick exclaimed. “What kind of a rigging is it? What use had they for this huge basket?” A brief inspection of the several articles enabled Nick to hit upon the truth.