in leaving
the building. Once outside, he hastened to a telephone booth. He had
no intention of telephoning, but he did want to find out the address
of Winckel. A plan was in his mind.

He found two Winckels in the telephone. He decided that in all
likelihood it was the one on Michigan avenue, the other was somewhere
on the North Side.

When he came to the first cross street he saw a passing taxi and
hailed it. The driver had some suspicion as to the ability of his
customer to pay, for Ted was still in his newsboy's clothes. However,
Ted proved he had the necessary funds and satisfied the chauffeur.

Ted left the taxi two blocks before he reached the Winckel residence.
The inside of the house was almost, not quite dark. Stealthily the
boy investigated. He decided that any entrance would have to be made
from the rear or the side of the building. The rear windows to the
basement and the door he found were locked.

The boy studied the situation. He saw where he could enter through one
place, but it would mean that he would have to remove a window glass.
He decided against that. There was danger of being heard.

Though Ted was seeking an entrance he had not as yet made up his mind
to try to go to the rescue of his friends. To go into the building and
take chances? But then, after all, his information could be of use to
Strong only, for he held the many threads.

It would be folly to call the police, Strong would not care to have
the publicity, and then, too, the two men might not be there after
all.

He decided, come what may, he would go in. He felt fairly certain that
Winckel would not be in the house nor would he return for an hour or
more. Before making any further attempt to get inside, Ted went to a
nearby drug store. He obtained paper and stamped envelope and wrote
the following message to Strong's office, addressing it to Strong's
secretary, Miss Ford.

"Unless you hear from us in the early morning, you will find us
imprisoned in the cellar of Mr. Winckel's house. I am now trying to
get Mr. Strong and Mr. Walker out, but may not succeed.

"11:15 p.m. Ted."

Having mailed the letter he hurried back to the house. Cautiously he
prowled about, trying to find a way into the basement. There was no
way.

At any ordinary time Ted would have said it was impossible to get up
on that ledge, but he managed it now. The house entrance was through a
wide door, but one had