“So did I!” chorused some of the others.
“Well, air and water mingling and going through a pipe will make a groaning noise sometimes,” commented Luke.
“If any water going through a pipe made a noise such as we heard—then that pipe and water had better go on the stage and do a vaudeville turn,” declared Neale. “It would bring down the house!”
“Well, we’ll soon settle what it is,” remarked Luke. “I’m going down cellar. You have lights there, haven’t you?” he asked, turning to Ruth. “Can they be switched on from up here?”
“Yes. But you mustn’t go down there alone, Luke! Wait until I call Uncle Rufus!”
“Nonsense!” expostulated the young collegian.
Uncle Rufus had gone to bed earlier in the evening before the retirement of Mrs. MacCall and Linda.
“We’ll go with him!” offered Neale and Hal.
“One of you boys has got to stay with me, for I’m not going near that cellar!” declared Nalbro.
“Now, wait a minute,” said Luke slowly. “This thing—this investigation—must be done aright. I’m going to scout around down the cellar by myself. I can do it better alone. If two of us go, one is sure to think he sees something. He’ll call out and attract the attention of the other, perhaps just at a time when a valuable discovery is about to be made. Whereas one, alone, can devote his whole mind to the business in hand. So I’ll go down alone and if I find I need help I’ll sing out and some of you can follow.