“A light in the mill!” exclaimed Ned softly. “There must be something wrong. I never saw one there before. Mr. Judson has no night watchman either, unless he has gotten one in the last few days, which I doubt. I wonder what’s up?”
In spite of the rather disagreeableness of the task Ned resolved to keep watch for a little while and see what developed.
He found a stone where he could sit down in the shadow and observe events. For some time nothing happened. The little light glowed steadily. Then it began to flicker and to move about.
Suddenly, off to the left, Ned heard a sound. It was just as if some one was walking along and trying to avoid making a noise. Only the breaking of a little piece of wood now and then, or the rattle of a pebble, showed that some one was moving.
Ned crouched down behind the stone on which he had been sitting. He peered forward, straining his eyes in the uncertain light to catch the least glimpse of who ever was approaching. He started as he saw a man, bending low so as to conceal as much of himself as possible, steal from the yard of the mill and take up his position on the other side of the street, about fifty feet from where Ned was concealed.
“I’m almost certain that was Bill Berry,” whispered Ned. “I’m positive now that something wrong is afoot. Bill isn’t out on a night like this for any good. I wonder if I ought to run for help?”
For some time Ned kept watchful eyes in the direction Bill, or the man he supposed was him, had gone. He could see him, crouched all in a heap, beside a stone, just as Ned himself was. And the man seemed to be keeping a watch on the mill, exactly as Ned was doing.
“Maybe there are robbers in the mill now,” argued Ned, “and Bill is keeping guard. I’ve a good notion to go and see if I can’t find a policeman.”
Once more Ned heard a movement in the direction of the mysterious watcher. He looked and saw the man straighten up and look cautiously about him. Then he saw him steal across the street, go up to the door of the mill office, and peer in.
“I wish I dared do that,” thought Ned. “Then I’d know whether I’m making a fool of myself, staying out like this when I ought to be in bed.”