Will you do it?
Will you put in a week trying to run down this burglar and give 'The Blade' the first chance at the story?
I'll agree, in advance, to pay you for whatever time you'll put in on it for a week, if even you are not successful in running him down." "I'll think it over," Dick replied, with a quiet smile.

"I'll talk it over with Dave." "There's another mighty bright young fellow!" cried the editor.
"Now, why can't you get Darrin to go into it with you?
I'll pay Darrin for his time, too." Dave, when the project was sprung on him, gave his hearty assent.
"It won't do any harm to have a try at it, anyway, Dick," urged Darrin.

"It'll wake us up a bit, too.

Not that I've any real and abiding idea that we're going to catch Mr.Burglar." "If we're in earnest we're going to catch him," declared Prescott.
"That's the old Gridley High School way, you know.

What well start on we've got to put through." Night after night, in that cold January week, Dick and Dave slipped out late at night, and prowled about through the business district of Gridley.