way over the frozen wastes of Alaska and through the jungles of Central Ame

he semi-darkness of the street, he

im over like a tenpin. But the other, the tall one?"

of that he seemed to feel a twinge

he mysterious eye blinking out of the wall back there in the hall.

ttered a low grumble which Johnny did not understand. Next instant the

. He felt for the roll of bills that had been paid him

sor said that," he mumbled as he hurried a

ht. The whole business had thus far

ter that tomorrow and another tomorrow. The task he

red next morning, suitcase in hand, ready for work at the door of that mystery

lix Van Loon sitting on th

the wall and submit my skeleton for inspe

ffee with me before we get down

o," Johnny

pressed a button, then shot a wooden

ric coils began to light up. At the same time Johnny noted with

d. "They'll do your w

nny did not feel free to ask quest

he sprang to his feet, threw open a second panel and proceeded to draw forth a steaming pot of coffe

r place," he

he said. "He does things no one dreams of. Enjoys it a lot, he does. So do I. But Father has a dee

y searched the dark corners of the room

right then, let's be on our way." He strod

h. They had passed one brownstone building and were app

se anything happens. Bit irregular, the thing we are about to do. If it

ose. "Ninety per cent of all crimes are committed by men who never work. Professional criminals, they make life unsafe for everyone. But Father doesn't trap 'em. He just works out the traps. He'

and a sh

ate, those two, but not too late. Got to get in

my helper. No breaking in or anything like that. Got the key from the owner. But if they come down, that tall

was a sense of dizziness in his head. He was seeing again the living skeletons,

said Felix,

e the switch boxes in th

is, 'No questions as

found themselves in an ancient parlor. The pl

my hands while I work. Won't try to raise the shades. Might disturb our frie

er with his free hand. The memory of a knife blad

onds the two boys

t more and his long capable fingers, trembling slightly,

spered. "Hole'

ought out a small metal bo

d his work. Pushing the wires through the hole left by the removal of the punch button

hed. "Couldn't ha

silence. There had come

ed his hammer handle hard. If they were attacked he would do his bit. But

ew. "There!" he sighed. "They'd never

Johnny was not permitted to know. For a full quarter of an hour, alternately chilli

ar, "we go this way." They passed through a doo

. For all that, his foot struck some object that gave forth a low, hollow roa

ed. "Going out to breakfast, perhaps.

en, satisfied that all was well, Felix tucked some w

street the inventor's son offered Johnny a slim hand. "I-I

's face hardened. "Mean to say there

too! Up to something rather terrible, I imagine. But then," he added as a sort of afterthought, "we're not detectives. I o

morrow. Tell you what-that'll be all for today. Why don't you come back day aft

different sort than that expected by Felix. Fate too would step in and change the dat

nd, Johnny hurried

me luck and promise of adventure. Why might not another do the same? Might go to the sha

ht enough, but not in just th