“Then I guess the job is up to us,” Judy said, looking directly at Kathleen. “Where’s that key?”
“I don’t think you should go down into that dreary hole,” Miss Meadows protested.
“Nonsense, Aunt Mattie! We investigated once before, and everything was all right. You’ve not had the door unlocked since?”
“Absolutely, not. I’ve been here at the cottage all the while too.”
“Then no one could be down there.”
“I didn’t imagine those weird sounds,” Miss Meadows said. “If you had been here—”
Suddenly she stiffened. From beneath the kitchen floor there issued forth a series of muffled thuds.
“Hear it?” Miss Meadows whispered, staring fixedly at the locked cellar door.
The sound ceased and the cottage was as quiet as before. Judy and Kathleen stood transfixed, dreading to take the action which they felt they must.
“Where’s that key?” Judy finally murmured, groping for it on the high kitchen shelf.