Ronnie took off after his grandfather. He found him sitting on a rock at the top of the bluff and looking out over the valley and the deserted village.
“Hi, Gramps,” Ronnie greeted him.
“Well, now, boy, come set a spell with me. My old legs won’t let me get down there in the village any more, but by golly, they can’t keep me from sitting here and looking.”
“Gramps?”
Grandfather shifted his position by leaning heavily on his cane. He faced Ronnie. “Boy, you’ve got something on your mind, and don’t tell me you haven’t because I’ve come to know when you’re troubled.”
Ronnie nodded. “There’s something going on down in the village that I’m all mixed up about.”
“You’re darned tootin’ there’s something going on down there!” the old man retorted. “Those Seaway people plotting and scheming to take the village away from me. I know what’s going on.”
“Not that, Gramps. Something else.” Ronnie went on to tell him about the blanket and the candle he had seen through the crack in the shutter, and about the strange light that had startled Bill and him the night before. He told Gramps about the mysterious prowler too.
“Gramps,” he concluded, “do you suppose it’s got anything to do with the secret of the boarded-up building? Maybe there’s something hidden there that this man is looking for.”
Grandfather looked at Ronnie sharply. “What man?” he demanded.