“There are other ways in,” said Joe, leading round the corner.
Will now saw that the house extended a considerable distance back, with a yard fence along this second street. A gate in this fence stood very slightly ajar.
“I want a squint at the landlord now,” said Will, pushing into the bar-room, through the throng of loungers.
Behind the bar was a flashily-dressed young fellow with as much evil in his face as it would conveniently hold, busily dealing out liquor to his customers.
As Will stood, looking sharply through the throng of customers, a door behind the bar opened, and a man in his shirt-sleeves entered. A glance told him that this was the person who had been described to him, and satisfied him that it was the man he wanted.
He was small but stoutly built, swarthy almost as an Indian, with straight black hair, and eyes of deep blackness.
“That’s Black-eyed Joe,” he said, on meeting his friend outside.
“I ’spect some folks here at eight o’clock. They’ll be like to take the gate for it, but might try the front-door.”
“You and me are to see them, and fix their photographs in our heads. You take your stand here, where you’ve got a set at the front door. You’re posted in thieves and sich, and don’t let any go in without your nailing them. I’ll take my squint at the gate. I think it’s like my fellers will take that route.”
Will’s way of taking the gate was to coil himself in a heap against the opposite fence, and to be apparently lost in slumber.
He slept, however, with both eyes wide open.
He had not been there five minutes before a man came quietly up the alley, looking suspiciously around. He saw Will, but paid no attention to him. In an instant he had opened the gate and disappeared in the yard.
Ten minutes passed of Will’s silent watch, when two men came along in company.
He expected they would pass by, but they boldly opened the gate and passed in, closing it behind them.
A half-hour of Will’s silent watch had passed, and he was about to give it up, under the impression that all his birds were caged, when a fourth man came along.
Will watched to see if he, too, would pass by. He came on with a hesitating step, his hat drawn down low over his eyes, and his hand stroking his whisker in such a way that half his face was hidden.