get inside the place, be alert continually. You may expect pitfalls, vapor bombs—anything!"
The officers scattered and surrounded the house inside the fence. Those on the outside crept as close as they dared, weapons held ready, and watched the doors and windows.
On and on went those inside the fence, until they were almost against the walls. The chief, the sheriff, and Verbeck were at the front.
"Doesn't seem to be anybody around," the chief said. "They got wise and left, I suppose. Well, we'll investigate the place anyway, since we are here."
He started up the steps that led to the small veranda at the front of the house. His foot struck the lowest step.
There was a sharp explosion, and half the veranda was torn away. Verbeck and the others reeled backward. A cloud of smoke filled the air; and it was not the pungent vapor used by the Black Star in his bombs.
"That was the real thing!" Verbeck declared.
The chief was pale and trembling as he retreated.
"I'll get that fiend!" he declared. "Look at the hole that explosion made in the porch floor! If a man had been over that——"
"They set it off too quick!" the sheriff said. "We've got to move carefully, or we'll be having casualties."
"We must take that chance!" the chief said. "We've got to get that fiend, and policemen are paid to run into trouble when it is necessary. Into the house, men! Get in any way that you can! Try to take care of yourselves, but get in!"
The officers cheered and shouted. They plunged
