“We were working on our sign,” Bill answered.
“I thought I saw a light coming from your office windows, and I was thinking about going down to investigate earlier. But I got so wrapped up in my work I just never got around to it.”
Ronnie glanced over at Bill to find his friend looking at him too. Bill was thinking the same thing, evidently. Caldwell was claiming that he hadn’t left his cabin all evening. That didn’t prove a thing, of course, Ronnie realized. In fact, Caldwell might have told them this just to cover his movements.
Mr. Caldwell got up and crossed over to his “kitchen” and returned with a box of crackers. “I can’t offer you much, but perhaps you’ll have a few crackers?”
“Thanks,” Bill answered taking several. “We can’t stay much longer. I’ve got to be getting back home soon.”
A miller moth made a dive-bomb attack at the lamp. Caldwell picked up a folded newspaper he had handy and swatted the insect. The lamp swayed precariously and the moth flew off unharmed.
“Dad’s got some old screens in the barn,” Ronnie said.
“I’ll bet you they could be made to fit the windows. Might even be a screen door. I’ll ask him about putting them up.”
“You just get them to me—along with some tools—and I’ll do the putting up, gladly!” the man answered.
Bill stuffed the last cracker into his mouth. “We’d better be getting along right now.”