Since Mary had mentioned “The Musicians of Bremen” an idea had been forming in Ben’s mind and he now hastily communicated it in a low whisper to his neighbor who passed it quickly down the line.
Just as the thin man outside exclaimed in a high sharp tone, “Why, it’s a boy!” Ben whispered, “Ready!”
Immediately the attic was filled with a pandemonium of noise,—the barking of a dog, cries, and screams! It was a truly terrifying combination, Mary’s shrill shriek rising weirdly above the other sounds as though from one in mortal agony.
The two men outside were startled in spite of themselves and dashed away on an uncontrollable impulse, the thin man shouting, “The ghost of the dead man! His evil spirit haunts us!”
“Good work, Ben,” called Charlie softly, after a moment. “Come out, quick! They’ve gone around back of the house. You can come this way, but hurry!”
The adventure had been so exciting and was so quickly over that the girls hardly realized where they were when they found themselves in front of the house, standing in a half-bewildered group in the deepening twilight.
“Nobody shall take any more chances for my motor car,” whispered Billie. “You have all risked your lives enough as it is, and I’m deeply grateful. The men may be around there by the machine, so let’s make a break for the fields and go straight home.”
“No,” replied Ben stoutly; “it would be best for you girls to get away, but Charlie and I will finish the job. Those fellows are cowards, any way, and——”
“But you can’t run the car,” said Billie, rapidly putting on her things, which Charlie had discarded with a sigh of relief. “I’ll have to stay. The other girls must go, though.”
The discussion, however, was ended by Charlie, who had skipped off to reconnoiter and now appeared running at full speed around the side of the house.