"You would make an expert cracksman," said the detective. "I didn't know you possessed that accomplishment in addition to all your other ones." The four men entered the private office. The room was quite dark, the shutters being closed and the blinds drawn. As their eyes became accustomed to the obscurity they were able to distinguish the outlines of a desk, a table, and a few chairs. Sturgis went at once to a door in the corner. With the aid of his skeleton key he had soon thrown this open. After peering for an instant into the darkness, he took from his pocket a candle, which he lighted. Then, beckoning to his companions, he started cautiously to descend. The other men followed him and soon found themselves in the cellar, which they proceeded to search. On the street side there was a recess extending for a few feet under the area in front of the house. The opening above was covered by an iron grating, over which was a wooden cover securely fastened on the inside by a chain and padlock. A number of carboys were carefully piled along the east wall to within a few feet from the rear of the building. Here, in the northeast corner, rose narrow shelving, on which were arranged a collection of bottles containing a varied assortment of chemicals. The detectives searched the cellar. "Our man is not here, at any rate," said the leader, when at last he had returned to the foot of the stairs; "perhaps he'll try to give us the slip by way of the roof. Come along, Jim; let's go upstairs now. Hello! what are you doing there, Mr. Sturgis? Think you'll find him in one of those bottles?" The reporter appeared to be closely inspecting the chemicals on the narrow shelves. "Who knows?" he replied coolly, continuing his examination. The detective bit his lip and looked the unpleasant things he thought it best not to say. "Well, Jim and I will take a look upstairs while you are busy here." And the two men went up the dark stairway, Sprague remaining behind with the reporter. "None so blind as those that won't see," said the latter, sententiously. At the same time he placed his hand upon one of the shelves and gave it a lateral push. It responded slightly, and the entire shelving, with the door which it concealed, opened outward. "I thought so," continued the reporter; "this looks as if it might lead somewhere. Will you come, Sprague?" "How did you find the combination so quickly?" asked the artist, preparing to follow his friend.