“I don’t remember. We left in such a hurry,” said Fred somewhat ruefully.
“Oh, you found the spooks, did you?”
“We heard some strange noises. The strangest of all was that some one called my name.”
“Oh, that’s not strange,” declared the tramp lightly. “I’ve been in this house hundreds of times. I have heard my name called and never flinched once. Sometimes the constable calls it and sometimes somebody else, but it doesn’t make any difference; I never answer. If you’d like to look through the old house I’ll show you around.”
CHAPTER VI—A PRISONER
“That’s just what I should like to do,” exclaimed Fred eagerly.
The knowledge that he was not to make the investigation entirely alone doubtless strengthened the courage of the boy. All his friends were aware that he was not cowardly and yet somehow his strange experience of the preceding evening in the old Meeker House had deeply affected him. Convinced as he was that there was an explanation to be found for every mysterious happening, nevertheless he was somewhat nervous at the thought of being alone in the neglected building.
“I have spent some time in here,” said the tramp, “as I told you. It is a queer old house. For example, right here in this room,” he added as he led the way into the front room, “there is a concealed closet. I don’t think any one would ever find it unless he was told of it.”