"It is lawbreaking, but I am inclined to back you up," confided Steingall to Carshaw when the car was humming back to East Orange. "At the worst you can only be charged with trespass, as my evidence will be taken that you had no unlawful intent." "Won't you come with me?" "Better not. You see, I am only helping you. You have an excuse; I, as an official, have none--if a row springs up and doors have to be kicked open, for instance. Moreover, this is the State of New Jersey and outside my bailiwick." "Perhaps the joker behind us may be useful." "He will be, or his girl will know the reason why. He may have fought in every battle in the Spanish War, but she has more pep in her." The soldierly plumber was as good as his word. He produced the ladder and the tarpaulin, and a steel wrench as well. "If you do a thing at all do it thoroughly. That's what Funston taught us," he grinned. Carshaw thanked him, and in a few minutes they were again looking at the tall gate and the dark masses of the garden trees silhouetted against the sky. They had not encountered many wayfarers during their three journeys. The presence of a car at the entrance to such a pretentious place would not attract attention, and the scaling of the wall was only a matter of half a minute. "No use in raising the dust by knocking. Go over," counseled Steingall. "Try to open the gate. Then you can return the ladder and tarpaulin at once. Otherwise, leave them in position. If satisfied that the house is inhabited by those with whom you have no concern, come away unnoticed, if possible." Carshaw climbed the ladder, sat on the tarpaulin, and dropped the ladder on the inner side of the wall. They heard him shaking the gate. His head reappeared over the wall. "Locked," he said, "and the key gone. I'll come back and report quickly." Jim, who had been nudged earnestly several times by his companion, cried quickly: "Isn't your friend goin' along, too, mister?" "No. I may as well tell you that I am a detective," put in Steingall. "Gee whizz! Why didn't you cough it up earlier? Hol' on, there! Lower that ladder. I'm with you." "Good old U. S. Army!" said Steingall, and Polly glowed with pride. Jim climbed rapidly to Carshaw's side, the latter being astride the wall. Then they vanished. For a long time the two in the car listened intently. A couple of cyclists passed, and a small boy, prowling about, took an interest in the car, but was sternly warned off by Steingall. At last they caught the faint but easily discerned sound of heavy blows and broken woodwork. "Things are happening," cried Steingall. "I wish I had gone with them." "Oh, I hope my Jim won't get hurt," said Polly, somewhat pale now. They heard more furious blows and the crash of glass. "Confound it!" growled Steingall. "Why didn't I go?" "If I stood on the back of the car against the gate, and you climbed onto my shoulders, you might manage to stand between the spikes and jump down," cried Polly desperately.