He drew a nervous breath, and swung the door swiftly back, as if afraid that his courage would ooze away before he reached the stairway. Sid and Silvey followed very cautiously over the scratched hardwood floor.
"Shall I shut the door?" asked Bill as he took hold of the knob.
"N-no, we may have to run, yet."
They explored the main floor. No one was in the library, no one in the narrow, badly lighted dining-room, and no one in the dingy kitchen. All seemed quiet upstairs. Silvey bolted the basement door that they might not be pursued from that quarter, and Sid, as they returned to the hallway, cut off the avenue of escape to the street. John led the way up the winding, uncarpeted stairs. Silvey followed close at his heels and DuPree lagged in the rear.
"Boo-oo!" Sid shouted when they had ascended half the distance.
John's pea shooter clattered to the landing. Silvey turned angrily on the miscreant, his face still pale from the fright.
"I've a' mind to punch your nose for that! 'S'pose there was really somebody!"
