CHAPTER XX. 

FOLLOWING ALLEN. 

Hal was astonished to learn from Katie McCabe that Dick Ferris was coming up the tenement stairs. 

"He can't be coming here!" exclaimed the youth. 

"What shall we do if he does?" asked McCabe. 

"I don't know. Perhaps I had better hide. He may----" 

At that instant came a knock on the door. 

"It's him!" whispered Katie. 

Andy McCabe, the father, pointed to a closet. Hal tiptoed his way to it, and motioned for Katie to follow. The door was closed, and then Andy McCabe answered the summons. 

Ferris stood at the door, his hair disheveled and his lips trembling. 

"May I ask who lives here?" he asked. 

"My name is McCabe." 

"Isn't there a man by the name of Macklin living here?" went on Ferris. 

"Macklin?" repeated McCabe, slowly. 

"Yes, Tommy Macklin." 

"Not as I know on. What does he do?" 

"I don't know. I have a letter to deliver to him. So you don't know where he lives?" 

"No, sir." 

"It's too bad. Will you please tell me what time it is?" 

Andy McCabe glanced at the alarm clock that stood on the mantel-shelf. 

"Quarter to six." 

"As late as that!" cried Ferris. "I must hurry and catch him before six. Only quarter of an hour. Good-day, sir." 

"Good-day." 

In a moment Ferris was gone. McCabe closed the door, and Hal came out of the closet followed by Katie. 

"What does he mean?" questioned the man. 

"I'll tell you what it means," said Hal. "He is trying to prove an alibi, in case a body was found in the vat. He thinks you can remember he was here looking for Macklin at quarter to six. If that was true, how could he have helped Macklin at five o'clock?" 
who was going to hide?
from who?
why were they surprised?
who is their dad?
where did he want them to hide?
did they run to it?
did their father answer the door?
who was Dick looking for?
why?
what was his appearance like?
what did he ask McCabe?
what time was it?
Did he say anything before leaving?
what?
when did the kids come out of the closet?
who came out first?
why does he think Dick Ferris wanted an alibi?
why?
at what time?
was Ferris rude?
Hal and Katie
Hal tiptoed his way to it, and motioned for Katie to follow.
Dick Ferris
 Dick Ferris was coming up the tenement stairs. 

He isn't allowed?

"He can't be coming here!" exclaimed the youth. 
Andy McCabe
Andy McCabe, the father,
a closet.
 pointed to a closet. Hal tiptoed his way to it, and motioned for Katie to follow. 
no
Hal tiptoed his way to it, and motioned for Katie to follow. 
yes
The door was closed, and then Andy McCabe answered the summons. 
Macklin .

"Isn't there a man by the name of Macklin living here?" went on Ferris. 
to deliver a letter
"I don't know. I have a letter to deliver to him. So you don't know where he lives?" 

disheveled and trembling
Ferris stood at the door, his hair disheveled and his lips trembling. 

the time
"It's too bad. Will you please tell me what time it is?" 

"Quarter to six."
"Quarter to six." 

yes
"As late as that!" cried Ferris. "I must hurry and catch him before six. Only quarter of an hour. Good-day, sir." 

"I must hurry and catch him before six.

"As late as that!" cried Ferris. "I must hurry and catch him before six. Only quarter of an hour. Good-day, sir." 
after their dad closd the door
In a moment Ferris was gone. McCabe closed the door, and Hal came out of the closet followed by Katie. 

Hal
Hal came out of the closet followed by Katie. 
in case a body was found in the vat
 in case a body was found in the vat
If he was looking for Macklin how could he have helped him
 He thinks you can remember he was here looking for Macklin at quarter to six. If that was true, how could he have helped Macklin at five o'clock?"
He thinks you can remember he was here looking for Macklin at quarter to six. If that was true, how could
He thinks you can remember he was here looking for Macklin at quarter to six. If that was true, how could
no
"As late as that!" cried Ferris. "I must hurry and catch him before six. Only quarter of an hour. Good-day, sir." 
