CHAPTER XXIII.
The Plight of the Innocent If the information that had come over the wire from an unknown was correct there was not a moment to be lost in telephoning.
It was a masculine voice that had sounded in the 'phone and the message was to the effect that the sender of the message had just observed two men forcing the rear entrance of Kahn's drygoods store.
"And hearing that 'The Blade' is trying to catch the burglars I thought I'd just let you know," the voice had continued.

"But I guess you'll have to be quick if you want a sight of the burglars.
They'll probably get away in quick order." Then had come the ring-off, just as Dick had tried to get the name of his informant.
Now Dick was sprinting toward the scene by the shortest route that he could think of.
Kahn's store was on Main Street, but the rear entrance, used for the receipt of goods opened in off an alleyway that ran parallel with Main Street.
"There can't be much time to spare," muttered Dick, looking hard for a policeman.
At this late hour of the night the streets that Dick traveled in his haste were bare of pedestrians.
"I wish I had had time to get Dave," though Prescott.

"But that would have lost at least five minutes more.

And Dave wasn't going to be ready to go out until he came around for me nearer midnight." Dick was at the head of the alley, now, an moving cautiously, eyes wide open and ears on the alert.
How dark it was down in here! Dick wondered, a moment, at the keenness of vision that had enabled some neighbor to see what was going on over in this dark place.
In his pocket, at the time of receiving the message, Prescott had placed a pocket electric "search-light." This he thought of, now, but he did not deem it wise to go flashing the light about unless he had to.
"The first point in my information is right, anyway," muttered Dick.

"The rear door of Kahn's is open." Moving in the shadow of the building, he had paused not far away from the door in question.
"There were two of the fellows, the message said," muttered Dick.
"In that case, I should think one would have been left outside as a lookout.