As the two automobiles, the truck, already accumulating its cargo of victims, and the third car rolled up to the darkened house, immediately something appeared wrong.

The place was too dark, too still.

His men ran inside. The chief saw the lights go on, and now saw the silhouetted figures of his own troopers running about the rooms. It was obvious they had found no occupants.

As he approached, he signalled to the men of the second car to drive around back and search the alley and nearby streets.

He ran up the steps and inside.

“Es ist ganz leer, mein Herr,” said one of the men, meeting him at the door, rifle at his side.

Brushing past him without reply, he slowly entered and then walked through the rooms of the small dwelling. Just as the man had said, the house was empty.

They must have been tipped off. The very thought filled him with anger. He did not like to be anticipated or second-guessed!

By now several of his men were running through the back door, having encircled the house. In answer to his inquiring look, they shook their heads.

He turned back inside and walked through each of the rooms again, more slowly now.

He paused in one of the two tiny bedrooms. The quiet rage boiled inside. They are not far away, he thought. His preternaturally keen sensibilities told him they had left just minutes before he and his men had arrived.

In the room yet hung the faint odor of humanity, even a hint of bodily warmth. He could sense the lingering feel of their presence.

The yellowed teeth clenched invisibly against themselves, as the hands at his sides unconsciously assumed the white-knuckled formation of a fist.

How did they know?

He stood thinking a moment or two longer. They can’t have gone far! They have to be somewhere in the vicinity!

With sudden determination, he spun around and strode to the front of the house.

“Search everywhere!” he said to his men. “Don’t give up till you find them. These are the ones we’ve been looking for. Search the yards nearby. Roust the neighbors, arrest them if necessary. Someone had to see them or know of their plans!”

Instantly the men dispersed in a flurry of directions, while their superior quietly turned and walked again through the house. If they were unsuccessful, after the rest of the night’s business, he would bring dogs back in the morning.

The chief opened the back door, stood for a moment, then lifted the lantern in his hand toward the blackness of the yard behind the house, peering into it as with the intent of a sorcerer, attempting to divine what no human eye could see.