Tad was waiting for them, and he straightway smuggled them into the house.
"Aunt Nancy's expectin' Professor Jenks to call," he gleefully whispered. "I told her that I saw him, and he said he'd be here to-night, so she's frizzled and primped to receive him."
"You'll get into a scrape," said Frank.
"I don't care for that, if I can see some fun. Come right into the parlor, and we'll all hide. Aunt's up in her room, layin' on the finishin' touches."
Into the parlor they slipped. A fire was burning in the old-fashioned open fireplace, and it was plain that Mrs. Cobb had "spruced things up" to receive company.
"Two of us can git behind the organ in the corner here," said Tad. "The other feller can hide under the sofa."
As the sofa was a long, old-fashioned affair, and any one hidden beneath it could command a view of the entire room, Frank decided to conceal himself there.
This was barely settled when there came a sharp rap on the door.
"Git under cover quick!" hissed Tad. "That must be one of 'em!"
Tad and Hans made haste to squeeze in behind the organ, and Frank crept under the sofa.