"Look there, by the second window! Can you see any one?" he asked excitedly. Pausing in their tracks, Buttons and Sandow peered in the direction indicated. "There's some one sneaking along the side, I think," whispered the latter. "Probably Bart and his crowd," suggested Buttons. "Maybe, but I doubt it," returned the leader of the First Form. "You don't suppose it is anyone trying to break into the bank, do you?" queried Fred. "I don't believe so," rejoined Sandow. "If they were, they'd be more likely to work at the back of the building than on the side. However, we'll stay here and watch a few minutes." To this proposal the other boys agreed readily. "Keep on talking, just as though we hadn't seen anybody," advised the oldest of the trio. And though his companions obeyed, they continued to keep a sharp watch on the bank building. "They've seen us," exclaimed Buttons suddenly. "Look, they're going back! Can't you see them, crouching down? I tell you, there's something wrong!" But just as the boy finished voicing his suspicion the flare of a match flickered, revealing two men, searching the ground on their hands and knees. "Whoever it is has lost something," murmured Fred. "But who are they?" demanded Buttons. "It may be only a bluff to throw us off the track, now they realize they've been discovered." "My eye! but you talk just like a story book detective," laughed Sandow. "What do you want us to do, charge 'em, and cry 'hands up'?" "Don't be a fool----" began Buttons, in angry retort, when a second match flared, the light from which enabled the boys to see the faces of the two men. As they recognized them, the three chums looked at one another in amazement. "It's Mr. Montgomery and Mr. Gibbs!" exclaimed Fred, more to himself than to his companions. "That's who it is," agreed Sandow. "You'd have got us into a pretty mess, if we'd given an alarm, wouldn't you, Buttons?" "But what are they doing at the bank at this time of night?" demanded the latter. "Go ask them, if you're so mighty anxious to know--though I reckon Mr. Montgomery has the right to go into the bank, of which he is president, any time he wishes." "That's just what he hasn't," returned Buttons. "It was only the other day I heard father say no one should be allowed in the bank, from the time the clerks leave at night, till they arrive the next morning." "Well, I shouldn't advise you to repeat that to Mr. Montgomery," said the leader of the Firsts. "Now we've found out no one is trying to rob the bank, let's be going home." With the resumption of their walk, Buttons and Sandow took up the matter of the Seconds' football team. Repeatedly they asked Fred's opinion or advice, but his answers showed that his mind was far away. "I say, come back to earth. What are you dreaming about, anyway?" demanded his Form mate, in disgust, as Fred replied to an important question in regard to the make-up of the team with an "I don't know."