All saw the figure, and Tom at once proposed that they follow the fellow. Frank was willing, and away they went across the street and also into the gloom. Buddy Girk was making good time past a number of business buildings which at this hour of the night were locked and barred up and practically deserted. "I wonder if he saw us start to follow him?" whispered Dick, after several blocks had been passed. "I don't think so. If he had, it's more than likely that he would have legged it to get away. He--hullo, he's going into that alleyway!" As Tom spoke he pointed to an opening between two tall office buildings. Reaching the spot they saw, at the foot of the alleyway, a couple of tenement houses. Buddy Girk was ascending the steps of one of the houses, and presently he disappeared within the dark hall. "He must be stopping here," remarked Sam. "That is something worth knowing--if we want to put the police on his track." "I might have him arrested at once," suggested Dick. "He may not be here in the morning." "Why don't you go and have a talk with him?" came from Frank. "He may get scared and tell you all you want to know about that mining business." "By jinks, there is something in that!" cried Dick. "Don't you get into trouble," warned Tom. "He may prove an ugly customer if you corner him." "Let's all go in," said Sam. "He won't dare to do much with four against him." The subject was discussed for a few minutes, and they resolved to follow Sam's advice, Dick to lead the way and learn just how the land lay. Then all walked down the alleyway and toward the tenement, little dreaming of the surprise in store for them. CHAPTER VII DICK IS MADE A PRISONER The hallway of the tenement was pitch-dark, the door standing open for a foot or more. From a rear room came a thin stream of light under a door and a low murmur of voices. "I guess he went to the rear," whispered Dick. "You wait around the corner till I see." Noiselessly he entered the hallway and walked to the door of the rear room. Listening, he heard an Irishman and his wife talking over some factory work the man had been promised. "Girk can't be there," he thought, when he heard an upper door open. "Hullo, Buddy, back again!" muttered a strangely familiar voice, and then the upper door was closed and locked. Wondering where he had heard that voice before, Dick came forward again and ascended the rickety stairs. They creaked dismally, and he fully expected to see somebody come out and demand what was going on. But nobody came, and soon the upper hall was gained, and he reached the door which he rightfully guessed had just been opened and closed. "Yes, everything is all okay," were the first words to reach his ears. "But I had a sweet job to find Mooney. He's cracked on music, it seems, and had gone to a concert instead of attending to business."