just as quickly as possible," Tommy ventured,
"because there's no knowing when that bum detective may return. I'd give
a whole lot of money right now to know what he is looking for!"

The three strangers regarded each other laughingly, evidently well
pleased at the puzzled look showing on the faces of their friends.

"Wait till we get to headquarters and get a square meal under our
belts," Jimmie promised, "and we'll tell you what this bum detective is
looking for. It won't take long to do it, either."

"You know, then, do you?" asked Tommy.

"Of course, we know!"

"Then why don't you tell?"

"Couldn't think of telling on an empty stomach!" laughed Jimmie
provokingly.

As the boys walked along the passage, only a short distance from the old
tool house, they heard a rattling and bumping on the shaft ladders and
instantly extinguished their lights.

Presently they heard footsteps on the hard floor of the gangway, and
then a light such as those being used by the boys flashed out.

"Now we're in for it!" exclaimed Tommy.

"For the love of Mike, don't let him see us!" whispered Jimmie.

"It'll spoil everything if he does," Dick submitted.

The boys crowded close against the wall of the gangway and waited
impatiently for Ventner to pass along.

He was muttering to himself as he moved down the gangway, and his round,
protruding belly and his little shapeless shoulders reminded the
watching lads of the gnomes they had read about, living in underground
cells and preying at night upon the fairies.

Only for a trifling accident the boys would certainly have been
discovered. Just as the detective came to a position ten or fifteen feet
from where they were standing, when he was in a position to see their
faces by the rays cast on ahead by the flashlight, he partly turned his
ankle in a stumble on the rails, and for a moment the rays of the light
were directed downward. He hobbled along, raving and cursing, for a few
steps and then walked briskly on again.

But the ever-watchful eye of the searchlight no longer struck upon the
wall where the boys stood, and they realized that for the present they
were safe from discovery. Ventner moved on down the gangway and soon
disappeared in a cross cutting which ran to the right.

"That's lucky!" exclaimed Jimmie.

"Why didn't we geezle him?" demanded Tommy.

"Because we want his help!" replied Dick.

"His help?" laughed Sandy. "Yes, you'll get his help, all right! That
f