"The lower ones are all fastened."
"Then I'll try one of the upper ones."
There was a tree close to the corner of the house with a branch swinging close to the window through which the boys had seen the light. Watched by Ferral and Carl, Matt climbed the tree and made his way carefully out along the branch. When opposite the window, he was able to step one foot on the deep sill and balance himself while lifting the sash.
"It's unlocked!" he called down softly. "I'll get inside and open the door."
"There's no telling what you'll find inside there," Ferral called back. "We'll all climb up and get in at the window, then look through the house together."
Carl was beginning to have "spooky" feelings again. Not wanting to be left alone by the front door, he insisted on being the next one to climb the tree. Matt, who had got into the house, reached out and gave his Dutch chum a helping hand. When Ferral came, they both gave him a lift, and all three were presently inside the up-stairs room.
"There's been somebody here, and not so very long ago," said Matt. "I smell tobacco smoke."
"It's t'ick enough to cut mit a knife," sniffed Carl.
"I'll strike a match and look for a lamp," said Ferral, "then we can see what we're doing."
As the little flame flickered up in his hands, the boys took in the dimensions of a small, square room. A table with four chairs around it stood in the center of the room, and on the table was a pack of cards, left, apparently, in the middle of the game. In the midst of the cards stood a lamp.