"No, girls mustn't wander around like this, but John may come if he likes," replied George, going out into the corridor.
Not wishing to let the elevator boy know they were on a tour of inspection, the three boys walked up to the next floor. A corridor exactly the same as the one they were on, was the only thing to see. Voices were heard—seemingly from the floor above.
"That must be Maggie upstairs," said Jack.
So up another flight they went, and found a couple at the head of the stairs talking loudly to a deaf old lady. Maggie was not to be seen. The three strangers got on the elevator, and the three boys walked down the length of the corridor. Almost at the extreme length of it, a door stood open, and the boys were sure Maggie would be in that room, very probably making it ready for guests.
"My, this is an awful big house," remarked John.
"Almost like a canyon—these high, dark corridors," said Jack.
"It would be great sport trying to catch a spy running away from us down these gulleys and mountain-steps," grinned John.
By this time the boys had reached the end of the hallway, and stood looking in at the opened door of the room; but it was not a guest-room. It was a store-room of some sort. The door had been left open by mistake, most likely, for no one was about on the entire length of the corridor.
"It must be a junk room," said George.
"They keep old half-worn stuff in it, I guess," added Jack, glancing at the shelves on one side, piled up with miscellaneous items.