“And I’m with you!” declared Sim. “But I have a new thought, Arden!”
“What, Mistress Sim?” asked Arden. “I declare I’m reverting to Colonial talk, thinking so much about this ancient place,” and she laughed. “But let me have your thought.”
“Could it be labor troubles?” asked Sim. “I mean, could some other contractor, who resented Mr. Callahan having the job of tearing down this old mansion, be trying to scare his men off so Mr. Callahan would give up the contract? Isn’t that possible?”
“Yes, possible.”
“You know,” went on Sim, “while there may not be very much money for a contractor in just pulling down an old mansion, this one is of Revolutionary importance, and there may be what the boys would call ‘pickings,’ that would sell for a good sum.”
“You mean like those hand-forged hooks in the closet where Jim disappeared from?”
“Yes. So it may be that some rival contractor is trying to force Mr. Callahan to give up by frightening his men away.”
“It’s an idea,” admitted Arden, after thinking it over. “But why haven’t some of these alleged jokers been caught?”
“Because they have been working on the fears of ignorant men.”
“You can’t exactly call Jim and his workers ignorant,” Arden objected.