“Where in the world are we?” Louise murmured in perplexity.
Penny flashed her light directly ahead. A series of four steps led down from the tunnel into an empty room which barely was six feet across. So far as she could see it had no exit.
“It looks as if we’re at the end of the trail,” Louise remarked in disappointment.
“This must be part of the Marborough house,” Penny declared, descending the steps into the tiny room.
“But there’s no way out of it except through the tunnel!”
“There must be if we can find it,” Penny insisted.
Wandering about the room she began to explore the walls, and Louise followed her example. Their search was rewarded, for presently they discovered a small brass knob embedded in the rough board paneling. Penny pulled on it and a section of wall slid back.
“Now we’re really in the Marborough house!” she whispered excitedly. “The basement, I think.”
Stepping through the opening, the girls made no sound as they tiptoed around in the dark, damp room. Penny’s flashlight revealed that the walls had been boarded over, but there was no solid foundation beneath their feet, only a hard dirt floor. A steep stairway led up from the basement.
“Do you suppose Mrs. Marborough is here?” Penny whispered, listening.