But the footsteps could not be denied. The sound became plainer. For an instant Fred glanced timidly toward the door and was strongly tempted to run from the place.
Before he started, however, the footsteps ceased, the old door at the foot of the stairway creaked upon its hinges and a moment later Fred saw standing before him a man, whose appearance proclaimed him to be a tramp.
The surprise was mutual, and for a moment the man and the boy stared blankly at each other. Fred suspected that the stranger doubtless had been sleeping in the upper room. Indeed the boy laughed in his relief as he was confident now that he had discovered the source of the strange sounds that had been heard the preceding evening.
“Hello, young man,” called the tramp in a low, guttural voice. “Did you come in here to wake me up? I told me valet not to call me until five o’clock.”
“No, I didn’t come in here to wake you up,” said Fred quietly.
“Maybe you come from the hospital?”
“No,” said Fred simply.
“I’m expecting somebody from the hospital.”
“What’s the matter? Are you sick?”
“Yes, I be. Leastwise, I’ve got some symptoms I don’t like.”