CHAPTER II
THE CLIMBING MAN
Almost as soon as she had spoken these words, Rose wished she had not. For looks of fear came over the faces of Mun Bun and Margy, and Laddie and Vi, though a little older, also acted as if frightened. And yet Rose had spoken what was in her mind. The smoke poured out into the attic through a hole in the chimney. It was getting thicker and more murky, and Mun Bun began to cough.
"Is there a fire?" asked Violet.
"Yes, I think so," answered Rose. And then it came to her mind that she must not frighten the smaller children, so she quickly added: "But I guess it's only a little fire. Maybe Norah is burning up papers in the stove and they smoke. I heard her tell mother there was a lot of trash to be burned since we came back from Uncle Fred's ranch."
"Well, she must be burnin' a awful lot!" exclaimed Laddie, and he choked as he swallowed a mouthful of smoke.
Just then a larger cloud of it seemed to pour out into the attic, and from outside the home of the six little Bunkers, and from the rooms below them, came shouts and exclamations.
"Oh, Russ!" exclaimed Rose, looking at her older brother, "something is the matter, I'm sure!"
"I guess there is," he agreed, as he ran to a window. "I'll let some of the smoke out and then——"
He suddenly ceased speaking as he looked to the street below. To the ears of the other children, playing in the attic, came a loud clatter and clang.