“I wonder what he wants out here?” thought Jerry. “Is he going to meet some one?”
To his surprise he saw Noddy, having halted in front of the deserted mill, enter the dark and uninviting place without hesitation.
“Ugh! I wouldn’t care to go in there alone,” thought Jerry. “It looks spooky!”
He dared go no closer than the dilapidated fence that surrounded the structure. Crouching there in the shadow, he looked toward the mill, to discern what went on. No one seemed to be waiting for Noddy, nor did the bully show by his actions that he expected any one. Shortly after he had entered the place Noddy struck a light, as Jerry could see. It flickered and moved about some, but seemed to be kept in one room. Then, in a few minutes, the light went out, and Jerry heard footsteps approaching down the gravel walk that led to the main entrance of the mill.
“He either went there to get something or hide something,” Jerry reasoned. “If it was to hide something I may discover what it was. If it was to take something I have very little chance of success.”
Still hiding in the shadow of the fence Jerry waited until Noddy had passed some distance down the road.
“I don’t fancy going into that place very much,” observed the boy, “but it’s got to be done.”
Considerably against his inclinations, Jerry took the dark path leading to the old mill. He started at every sound, and when an owl hooted in a nearby tree the boy jumped as if some one had yelled at him.
With beating heart he made his way into the deserted place. It was as dark as a pocket and the boy struck a light.
“If I only had a candle,” he wished.