The Go Ahead Boys and the Mysterious Old House Part 29

In a brief time they had arrived at the fence and in their haste both fell when they tried to climb over it.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" demanded Fred excitedly, as his friends approached the car.

"Never mind what's wrong," said George brusquely. "Let me get into the car and give me that wheel."

No further words were spoken while George and his companions entered the car and in a brief time the automobile was again speeding down the road.

Several times Grant glanced apprehensively behind him, but the increasing distance evidently gave him renewed courage, for when a quarter of a mile had been covered he said, "I suppose you fellows are both wondering what the trouble is."

"Yes, we are," said John quickly. "What is it?"

"It's the same thing that scared you, only worse. We heard sounds upstairs that showed that some men up there were fighting, then there was a pistol-shot and we heard some one fall. After that there were groans and cries galore, and we thought it was time for us to start for home."

"You were brave boys to leave that other fellow!" said Fred tartly. "If there was some one shot, it was time for you to help him."

"We couldn't help him very much if we went upstairs only to be shot ourselves," said George sharply.

"You don't know what you could have done," retorted Fred.

"No, I didn't know, but I'll tell you what I'll do. If you want to go back there right now, I'll take you back."

"I don't want to go," said Fred quietly. "It's time for somebody besides boys like us to step in. I think the best thing for us to do will be to find some man and take him back there. We can go in with him then and help if we have to."

"I guess that's a good suggestion, all right," said George quickly.

"Grant and I were so scared that we couldn't think of anything except getting out of the horrible old house in the best possible time. My, think how Grant loped along, taking about six feet at a jump."

"I noticed that I wasn't alone," said Grant, dryly. "Whoever it was with me wasn't very far behind."

"I guess you're right," acknowledged George. "Now I'll own up, fellows, about the speaking tube and the swallows. I knew the birds were in the chimney and I knew too that you didn't know much about such things, so I thought I would let you work it out. Then I put in that speaking tube and added to the fun, but I tell you right now that I have had my lesson. I'm not afraid of all the ghosts in Jersey, but I don't like the sounds that came from that upper room in the old Meeker House. I don't mind saying so to any one. I guess my father is at the house by this time, for he said he might come out to-night. If he is, we'll tell him all about it and let him take charge. It's time for the Go Ahead boys to go ahead all right, but I think they had better follow somebody who is older, all the same."

All the boys agreed that George's suggestion was the best that could be made. The speed of the automobile increased and not many minutes had elapsed when the Go Ahead boys arrived at George's home.

They were all delighted when they found that Mr. Sanders was there. He listened to the story of the excited boys and then quietly said, "I think we'll have dinner first and then I'll go with you over to the old Meeker House. You have been stirring up the spooks, have you?" and Mr.

Sanders laughed as he spoke. "There were spooks there when I was a boy, and I remember how we used to steer clear of the corner when we were coming home evenings. When we were a little older we began to make investigations and found there wasn't anything unusual or that couldn't be explained about the old place. But the stories of the spooks have kept up just the same. I don't know why, unless it is that there are some people that believe such things just because they want to believe them."

"That's what Caesar says," spoke up Grant. "I remember in his Commentaries he wrote that 'men believe that which they wish to believe.' But, Mr. Sanders, don't you think there's something very strange about what George and I heard there to-night?"

"There may be," admitted Mr. Sanders, "but there have been so many stories told about the old house that I do not know whether you boys thought you heard something or really did hear it."

"You would have known if you had been with us," spoke up George quickly.

"Well, I shall be with you soon and then we will try to find out. I cannot believe there is anything wrong there, so we might as well have our dinner and then we will start."

The plan of Mr. Sanders was followed, and directly after dinner the Go Ahead boys, together with George's father, started once more for the place which had been the scene of so much excitement throughout their summer vacation.

Upon the suggestion of Mr. Sanders a lantern was taken with them. When they arrived at the familiar spot beneath the old oak tree the lantern was lighted and all five started across the fields toward the Meeker House.

No one spoke until they arrived at the front door, which now had become a familiar spot to all four boys. Without a word Mr. Sanders pushed open the door and stepped within the room. Instantly there was a great fluttering of wings, for the chimney-swallows, startled by the light as well as by the unexpected entrance of the visitors, were displaying their alarm by their frantic cries and swift flight. No other sounds, however, were heard when the birds at last became more quiet.

"Where did you say the trouble was?" inquired Mr. Sanders.

"In the room upstairs," answered George.

"The one directly over this?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, then the only thing for us to do is to go up there and see what has happened."

The boys agreed to the suggestion and although no one spoke every one was aware that his companions were as excited as he when slowly they began to mount the rickety stairway. The boards creaked and groaned beneath their feet, increasing the excitement of all.

When they had arrived at the platform about midway on the stairway, all stopped and listened. The screeching sounds of the excited birds still continued, but otherwise the silence was unbroken.

"Is there anybody here?" called Mr. Sanders loudly. As no reply was made to his inquiry he turned to the boys and said, "There doesn't appear to be anybody here. Well go on up and continue our investigations."

Once more leading the way, Mr. Sanders noiselessly mounted the steps, the boys keeping closely together and not far behind the leader. Holding his lantern before him Mr. Sanders stopped when he arrived at the head of the stairway and examined the rooms that opened before him.

Suddenly a sound very like laughter was heard in the old building, but it quickly ceased and in place of it the faint tooting of an automobile horn was heard.

The boys now were staring about them and had it not been for the presence of George's father it is doubtful if any one would have remained.

As it was, a startling event occurred which instantly cause all five to turn quickly about and run swiftly down the stairway.

CHAPTER XXIV-THE END OF THE HOUSE

Even Mr. Sanders appeared to be as alarmed as his younger companions. At all events he was swiftly leading the way, and as the boys were running down the stairway two or three steps at a time it was necessary for him to move rapidly in order to keep his place at the head of the line.

There had been a sudden flash of light that apparently had filled the building. No sound had accompanied the strange sight although the air was heavy with the suffocating odor of burning powder. The light apparently had been flashed in every room at the same moment. The twittering of the chimney-swallows abruptly ceased after one shrill outburst of alarm.

Before the party arrived at the foot of the stairway the blinding flash was repeated. The house now seemed to be filled with the penetrating odor and even the lantern did not fully serve to light their way.

"Keep together, boys," called Mr. Sanders in a low voice. "We must all make for the front door and get out of this place as soon as possible."

In spite of their alarm, Fred in his own mind was questioning whether it was the heavy odor in the room or the desire of Mr. Sanders to gain a place of safety outside the building that had caused such a precipitate flight. At all events no one delayed, and in a brief time all five were running rapidly across the field, Mr. Sanders still holding the lantern and leading the retreating party.

Before they arrived at the road, however, they stopped and looked behind them. The old house now was wrapped in darkness. Not a sound came from the mysterious dwelling. The blinding flashes of light that had been seen apparently were ended and only the reflection of the moonlight from the few windows that still were left in the house produced an unusual sight.

In silence the Go Ahead boys and Mr. Sanders waited for a repet.i.tion of the sight which had startled them. Not a sound came from the place, and although the boys waited several minutes the strange lights were not repeated.

"I'm inclined to think," said Mr. Sanders thoughtfully, "that it will be better for us to go back and continue our investigations. What do you say, boys?"

"We agree," spoke up Fred glibly. "We might as well run this matter down now as at any time. What do you think those flashes were, Mr. Sanders?"

"From the odor I think likely they were made by setting off the powder which is lighted when a flash-light picture is taken."

"It does seem so, doesn't it?" said John quickly. "But where did such powder come from? Who lighted it?"