"They are not up to burglary," the idea ran through his mind. "It must be they are searching among the paymaster's papers to find out what they can about his system and methods. Yes, that is it."
Ralph saw the man who had struck the matches draw from his pocket a tallow candle, evidently intending to light it. His companion had pulled up the sliding top of a desk and was reaching out toward some pigeon holes to inspect their contents. Just then an unexpected climax came.
The foot of the young railroader slipped on a patch of frozen grass as he pressed too close to the window. Ralph fell up against this with a slight clatter. The man with the match turned very sharply and suddenly. He glared hard at the source of the commotion. He must have caught sight of Ralph's face before the latter had time to draw back, for he uttered a startled ejaculation.
With a bang the desk top fell back in place, the match went out, and the man with the candle fired it wildly at the form at the window with sufficient force to penetrate the pane with a slight crash.
Ralph drew back, some fine splinters of glass striking his face. It was totally dark now in the room into which he had peered. He could catch the heavy tramping of feet in flight and a door slammed somewhere in the house.
"Hey, there--what are you up to," challenged Ralph, sharply, as he stood in a puzzled way debating what was best to do. He turned about, to face a powerfully-built man, cane in hand, storming down upon him from the front of the house.
"It is you, Mr. Little?" inquired Ralph quickly.
"Yes, it's me. Who are you? Oh, young Fairbanks," spoke the paymaster, peering closely at Ralph.
"I thought I heard a pane of glass smash--"
"You did. Hurry to the rear, Mr. Little."
"Two men are in your house. They were just at your desk when I discovered them."
"I can't explain now, but it is very important that we prevent their escape."
"Burglars! We were all over to supper at wife's folks--"
"Spies, fits the case better, sir--some rival road spite work, maybe. It's serious, as I shall explain to you later."
Two figures had cut across the lawn from the rear of the house.
"They are the same men," declared Ralph, and both he and the paymaster put after them.