“Hi, Fred! Have a heart and open up!” demanded Andy. “I need washing, but I don’t want to take it out here in the open.”
“Come on with me,” whispered Randy. “We’ll surprise him,” and then he hurried the others around another corner of the barn where an opening led to a small pit. From this pit a flight of steps ran up to the main floor of the building. There was a trapdoor here, but this was unfastened and thus the three boys gained entrance to the barn without further trouble.
“Now you’d better surrender!” cried Jack, rushing forward, followed by the twins.
Then, as Fred was nowhere in sight, the three began a search for their cousin. Much to their surprise, he was not to be found. They went through the building from top to bottom half a dozen times, looking into the box stalls and also the harness closet, and peering around the old carriages still stored in the place.
But it was all to no purpose! Fred had totally disappeared!
CHAPTER IV
ALECK SEES A GHOST
“Where do you suppose he went to?”
“Search me! He has certainly dropped out of sight entirely.”