"There was a burglary in Oakdale night before last," said Dave. "I heard Swingly the janitor telling about it."
All three now heard a commotion in the farmhouse. There was the slamming of a back door, and then somebody came leaping down the inside stairs.
"Where is he, Jane?" they heard in a man's voice.
"I don't know, but I heard the back door shut," answered a woman's voice. "And I saw a light."
"I don't see anybody," went on the man of the house, and lit a match. Soon he had a lamp in his hand, with which he went to the back door.
"Did you leave the wash-shed window open?" he called out.
"No," returned Mrs. Lapham. "I shut it tight."
"It's open wide,—and the back door is unlocked," went on her husband.
"Any thieves around, pop?" came in a boyish voice.
"Better git the gun," advised another boy, Bob Lapham, who had the bats for sale.