“Yas, suh. Yas, suh,” he said when the boys first became aware of his presence, “I don’ tol’ yo’ not to go near dat ol’ Meeker House.”
“Don’t you ever go there?” asked Fred.
“Me go dar? No, suh. No, suh. It would take fo’ yoke ob oxen to make me go inside dat ol’ house in de daytime and in de night I reckon Caleb’s Army couldn’t drive me in dar’.”
“What became of your tramp friend?” inquired George when the boys arose to enter the room.
“That’s what I should like to know,” said Fred somewhat ruefully.
“Well, come on in, we’ll all feel better after dinner,” said George cheerfully, as he led the way into the dining room.
The strange experience which had befallen Fred was the chief topic of conversation. Even their interest, however, was broken when a half-hour had passed and word was brought that Uncle Sim was desirous of speaking at once to Mr. George.
Excusing himself George withdrew from the dining room and a few minutes later when he returned he said, “What do you think has happened, fellows?”
“We don’t know. How should we know?” retorted John. “If you’ve got something to say why don’t you say it?”
“That’s just what I am going to do,” said George, but he had scarcely begun his statement before his three friends leaped from their seats at the table and quickly followed him as he led the way out of the house.