“Then what was this noise?” asked Ruth.
“That’s what we’ve got to find out,” asserted Luke. “I’ll go down and find out. Maybe a water pipe burst in real earnest this time,” he suggested, with a glance at Ruth.
“Oh, don’t say anything now to make me more nervous!” she begged.
“Why does that make you nervous?” Nalbro asked.
“It reminds me of those two horrid men—not that I think they’re around now, or Hop Wong either, but——”
“Oh, say! Maybe it is Hop Wong searching for treasure under cover of the storm!” cried Agnes.
“Stop!” commanded Ruth. “If you’re going to suggest such things——”
She made a tragic gesture. Usually Ruth was not nervous. Clearly something had occurred to upset her usual poise.
“I only suggested water pipes,” remarked Luke, “because I thought maybe this terrific rain might have washed away a drain or something, accounting for the gurgling noise.”
“Gurgling noise!” exclaimed Neale. “It was a groan that I heard.”