"It certainly looks as if somebody had set this fire," mused Senator Morr. "Perhaps a tramp. Have you seen any such fellows around here?" he asked, looking at the others.
The boys had seen no tramps at all, and James said he had seen none for over a week.
"I saw one day before yesterday," said the chauffeur, "but I know he left town that night—I saw him board a freight train."
"Well, it is strange. Keep your eyes open," said Senator Morr, and then he returned to the house, to quiet his wife and retire once more.
"It's mighty queer about that fire," remarked Luke, when the boys were undressing. "It certainly does look as if it was set."
"Dave, do you think Merwell and Haskers would do it?" questioned Roger.
"Yes, if they were in this neighborhood. But have they been here?"
The boys looked at each other. Nobody had seen Merwell or the former teacher of Oak Hall in that vicinity.
"Let us make some inquiries down at the railroad station in the morning," suggested Dave. "If those two stopped off here somebody must have seen them."
"Phew! what a noise that cannon cracker did make!" murmured Phil. "If we had set that off in the morning—as we intended—I reckon it would have woke up the neighborhood pretty well."