"Well, then, you see," Captain Fitzgerald shrugged his broad shoulders, "we don't know what's missing and so we can't know where to look for it, and equally if we don't know what's taken we don't know what kind of a guy would have been taking it. I'd like to promise results, seeing it's yourself has called us in, but it'd be just foolishness to do it till the ladies get back. As soon as they do, you let us know, and we'll take up the case again, see? It's all we can do----" "Sure it is, Captain," agreed Peter, heartily. "Mr. Morris must see that in a plain case of burglary like this you can't do anything till the owners appear and make a complaint. He's perfectly satisfied and so am I. But you don't mind if we stick around here for a bit, do you? We've got some business to talk over and it's quiet here." He paused, and the utter silence of the place smote his nerves. "Yes, it sure is quiet," he thought within himself, "as quiet as death." Then aloud--"We'll lock up when we go and leave everything as is. So long, Sullivan. Much obliged to you, Captain. Hope I see you again," and with pleasant words of farewell he determinedly ushered Captain Fitzgerald and his satellite out into the hall. He closed the door carefully behind them, making sure that the lock was sprung, and returned to Morris who waited in the living room. "Well, that's that," said Peter with satisfaction, as he seated himself beside the window. Donald Morris was pacing about the room, a heavy, puzzled frown upon his face. He stopped in front of the detective. "Why did you get rid of the police in that abrupt fashion, Mr. Clancy?" he asked. "It seems to me that something ought to be done at once to track down this burglar, and we need all the help they can give us. I would do anything--pay anything--rather than to have Miss Blake suffer loss. With their help we might have found some clue--something to go upon. If it's a simple case of robbery, as they think----" Clancy looked up gravely and slowly closed one eye. "If it is a simple case of robbery," he repeated, "Captain Fitzgerald has done the only thing in his power. He's got nothing to go ahead on, if--it--is--simply--robbery." He said the last words so slowly and with so much meaning that Morris started eagerly forward, crying-- "Then you don't think----" "It may have been robbery," Clancy interrupted, with grave intent. "But--it wasn't a simple kind of robbery, that I'll swear to." "You mean?" "Mr. Morris, did you notice that kitchen window which was the obvious place for the thief to make his entrance, since the fire-escape led up to it?" asked Clancy, slowly. "Well," he paused, "the window was broken just at the catch, where it ought to have been, but," he shook an impressive forefinger, "the glass had fallen entirely on the outside of the window. There wasn't a trace of it inside the room." CHAPTER V CAMOUFLAGE?