Dan Carter And The Haunted Castle Part 31

The invalid winked at the gardener. "We do have an archer in our family, I believe?"

"Aye, that we do," the man admitted with a heavy sigh. "Many a time he's nearly winged me with his arrows."

Colonel Brekenridge requested the gardener to call his nurse.

A rustle of stiffly starched white uniform heralded her arrival a moment later. The young woman bore a gla.s.s of milk and two tablets on a tray.

"Oh, you have visitors, Colonel," she observed somewhat disapprovingly.

"Aren't you afraid of over-exerting yourself?"

"Not in the least," he rumbled. "Never felt better. I suspect I've been dying of boredom these last few months. What I need is more visitors."

"Colonel, it is time for your medicine."

"Medicine, be hanged! I'm sick of those ghastly concoctions the doctor has been forcing down me. And no more of that wretched milk!"

"You are feeling better, Colonel! Such spirit!"

"I'm deep in a mystery," the colonel smiled. "With your help though, I think we may be able to solve it. Miss Aldringham, will you find my grandson, Billy, and send him here?"

"I'll do my best, Colonel. That boy has a way of disappearing for hours at a time."

During the absence of the nurse, Colonel Brekenridge told the Cubs a little about himself. He said he had rented the house six months earlier, but had not been too pleased with the quarters.

"For one thing, my grandson has had no playmates," he explained. "The boy came to me three months ago from England."

At Dan's look of surprise, the colonel explained that Billy was an American by birth. He had spent many years in England and other foreign countries however, in company with his father.

"Billy hasn't been very happy here," he remarked sadly. "He's a live wire and hasn't had enough to do. Then I must admit I've been so ill I've scarcely concerned myself with his social needs."

Miss Aldringham returned to the porch to report that she could not find Billy anywhere.

"His room is empty," she said. "I couldn't find him on the grounds either."

"Drat that boy!" the colonel exclaimed. "Sometimes it seems to me he deliberately hides out! Since he's been up to mischief, he probably figures he'll be punished."

The Cubs might not have learned the answer to their many questions for days to come. At that moment, however, Dan's alert gaze chanced to rove toward a clump of bushes behind the veranda.

The Cub was startled to catch a glimpse of a touseled brown head of hair.

A pair of blue eyes gazed squarely into his own from amid the foliage.

Then the face was gone.

"I saw someone in that rhododendron bush just then!" he exclaimed.

"Nail him!" commanded the colonel.

Dan and the gardener both made a dive for the bush.

They emerged with a small boy in tow. Not more than eleven years of age, he wore English cut trousers which he had rolled to the knees. His freckled, deeply tanned face was smeared with dirt.

"Well, Billy, I guess you knew you were wanted," the colonel said severely. "Hiding out, weren't you?"

"Yes, sir," replied the boy.

His curious gaze moved from one Cub Scout to another and finally came to rest on the leather pouch which his grandfather held.

"Billy, you have a few matters to explain, I believe."

The boy grinned at his grandfather.

"Oh, sure," he admitted, undisturbed. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know-only first you have to promise not to punish me."

"You'll drive no bargain with me, young man. Sit down!"

"Yes, sir," Billy gulped, collapsing on the steps.

"Before we delve into other matters, there is one question I will ask,"

said the colonel severely. "Did you or did you not have anything to do with starting a fire at the Castle?"

CHAPTER 19 A New Cub

The point-blank question did not disconcert Billy Brekenridge.

"Why, no, Grandfather," he replied soberly. "I didn't start the fire.

That is, I don't think so."

"You don't seem to be very certain, Billy."

"Did you roast weiners that morning?" interposed Dan.

"No-o," the boy replied, thinking hard. "Oh, yes, I did, too. It was only a little fire though."

"Little fires have a way of spreading into large ones if they are carelessly tended," remarked Mr. Hatfield. "On that particular day a strong wind was blowing in the direction of the Castle."

"Then you think I started that big fire?" Billy asked, his eyes wide and very blue.

"We're afraid you may have done it unintentionally," his grandfather replied. "Billy, I fear I have neglected you of late, not paying as much attention to your comings and goings as I should have done."

Billy said nothing, but stirred uncomfortably. He took it for granted he was to be severely punished for having caused the fire.

"Now there are other questions to be asked," his grandfather resumed.

"You're quite handy with a bow and arrow, I believe."