nearly ten o'clock before
Under the shade of a huge elm , and drawn close up against the house , no one could distinguish the car from the surrounding shadow . A short ladder was placed in the tonneau and reared up against the wall . Bindle and Little both mounted the wall and waited what to Little seemed hours . It was nearly ten o'clock before a slight sound on the gravel announced the approach of someone . A subdued whistle from Dick Little produced a tremulous answer . Not a word was spoken . Presently a scraping against the wall announced the placing of the ladder from inside the garden , and a moment later a voice whispered : `` Is that you , Dick ? ''