"That will make Mrs. Stanhope and Mrs. Laning very anxious."
"Yes, and the girls, too, Sam."
"Well, we are anxious, too. Oh, I do hope our side wins!" cried Sam wistfully. "It would set me wild to see Tad Sobber get all that money!"
Dick and Sam were to meet Tom in Ashton at three o'clock, and all hoped that the girls would come later. Stanley could not go, for he had a Latin composition to write.
When the Rovers reached the hotel in Ashton they found Tom impatiently awaiting them By the look on his face they knew he had something to tell.
"Come up to my room," he said, and led the way to the apartment, located on the second floor, front.
"You can sit by the window, Dick, and keep a lookout for the girls," said Sam.
"Yes, they'll be here in about an hour," said Tom. "They telephoned this morning."
"Well, what have you discovered—anything?" demanded Dick impatiently.
"I think I am on the right track," answered Tom. "Let me tell you what I've done. In the first place, I visited the haunted house yesterday morning, and went through it from cellar to garret."