So Dick penetrated a little further, and a little further, listening.  As he moved he was obliged to grope his way.

At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of the compass.  In this darkness, he was not even sure which was the way out.

“I’ll have to use the flash now,” concluded Dick.

Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second.

“What was that?” muttered the boy, with a start, as the light went out.

Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps.  He was almost certain, too, that he distinguished the sound of low whispers.

“That flash has scared the rascals,” throbbed Dick Prescott.  “Now, if I can only locate ’em, and get out first!  I may succeed in getting the police to the scene before both get away.  One of ’em, anyway, I ought to be able to floor with this heavy cane!”

Transferring the light to his left hand, Dick took a strong grip of the cane.  It did not eyed occur to him to be afraid in here.  He was trying to trap the burglars as a piece of enterprise for “The Blade,” and that was all he thought about.

Suddenly there was a more decided step in the darkness.  It sounded, too, right in advance of the boy who stood there guessing in the dark.

“Halt, where you are!” shouted Dick.  “And throw up your hands as high as you can, if you don’t want to get drilled!  Don’t try to use your weapons, for I have the drop!”

It was sheer bluff, for the only thing with which Prescott could claim the drop was his cane.

Yet, in such circumstances, a bold front is half the battle.

Prescott bounded forward, boldly, at the same moment turning on his light.

The next moment, though he held the light, the cane dropped from his nerveless fingers.

“We’ve got you, Prescott!” roared a voice.  “And you?  Of all the thundering big surprises.  But we’ve got you!  Stop all nonsense and get in line to come along with us.”

It was the chief of police, backed by three of his men, whom Dick now faced.  They had thrown their lights on, too, so that there was now plenty of illumination.

Nor was this Chief Coy, one of Dick’s old time friends, but Chief Simmons, a new man appointed only a few months before.

Chief Simmons was almost frantically anxious to catch the burglar or burglars, for their continued operations reflected upon his abilities as the new police chief.

All in a flash young Prescott took in the horrifying idea that Chief Simmons believed him to be the real burglar.

“But I-----” began Dick chokingly.

“Yes, you will!” retorted Chief Simmons.  “You can’t put up any fight, and you can’t make any denial.”

“I-----”

“Take him, you men, and handcuff him.” roared the chief.  “Then we’ll go through the rest of the store, and see what we can learn.”