Andy made further unsuccessful efforts to arouse the house. He was sure now that there was nobody at home. He sat down on its front steps to think.
Finally he noticed that a wire ran from the barb wire fence in front into the house.
"They've got a telephone here, as they have at most of these farmhouses," he decided. "That ought to help me out. If I could only get to the inside."
Andy took another rambling tour about the house. Finally he discovered a window an inch or two down from the top in the second story.
His natural aptitude for climbing helped him out. With the aid of a lightning rod he soon reached the window, lowered it further, stepped into a bedroom, and descended a pair of stairs. Looking around the little front hall, he made out a telephone instrument on the outside wall.
Andy promptly turned the handle of the call bell. He placed the receiver to his ear.
"Hello," came the instantaneous response "this is Central."
"Central—where?" asked Andy.
"Brownville."
"Are you anywhere near the way station where the circus train is sidetracked?" inquired Andy.