NODDY AND THE SQUARE BOX.
“A light in the mill!” exclaimed Ned softly. “There must be something
wrong. I never saw one there before. Mr. Judson has no night watchman
either, unless he has gotten one in the last few days, which I doubt. I
wonder what’s up?”
In spite of the rather disagreeableness of the task Ned resolved to keep
watch for a little while and see what developed.
He found a stone where he could sit down in the shadow and observe
events. For some time nothing happened. The little light glowed
steadily. Then it began to flicker and to move about.
Suddenly, off to the left, Ned heard a sound. It was just as if some one
was walking along and trying to avoid making a noise. Only the breaking
of a little piece of wood now and then, or the rattle of a pebble,
showed that some one was moving.
Ned crouched down behind the stone on which he had been sitting. He
peered forward, straining his eyes in the uncertain light to catch the
least glimpse of who ever was approaching. He started as he saw a man,
bending low so as to conceal as much of himself as possible, steal from
the yard of the mill and take up his position on the other side of the
street, about fifty feet from where Ned was concealed.
“I’m almost certain that was Bill Berry,” whispered Ned. “I’m positive
now that something wrong is afoot. Bill isn’t out on a night like this
for any good. I wonder if I ought to run for help?”
For some time Ned kept watchful eyes in the direction Bill, or the man
he supposed was him, had gone. He could see him, crouched all in a
heap, beside a stone, just as Ned himself was. And the man seemed to be
keeping a watch on the mill, exactly as Ned was doing.
“Maybe there are robbers in the mill now,” argued Ned, “and Bill is
keeping guard. I’ve a good notion to go and see if I can’t find a
policeman.”
Once more Ned heard a movement in the direction of the mysterious
watcher. He looked and saw the man straighten up and look cautiously
about him. Then he saw him steal across the street, go up to the door
of the mill office, and peer in.
“I wish I dared do that,” thought Ned. “Then I’d know whether I’m making
a fool of myself, staying out like this when I ought to be in bed.”
For more than a minute Bill Berry, for Ned could see plainly now that
the man was the town bad character, stood and gazed into the mill
office. Then, apparently satisfied with what he had seen, Bill tip-toed
away and passed down the street and out of sight.
“Now it’s my turn,” whispered Ned, and he moved forward.
He looked up. The light was still glowing though faintly. Ned set his
foot on the first wooden step. As if it had been a signal agreed upon
the light went out suddenly, and the office was in darkness.
“Queer!” exclaimed Ned. “I wonder if whoever is in there could have
heard me?”
A moment’s reflection, however, showed him this could not have been the
case.
“Maybe they are watching and saw me,” he argued. This made him feel a
little strange. To think that in the darkness, there might be evil eyes
watching his every movement was not a pleasant thought. He knew that
he could be seen from within the mill, though he himself could observe
nothing inside.
“Might as well look in, though, now I’m here,” he said to himself.
So he boldly, but softly, went up the five steps, and, placing his hands
on either side of his face, to shut out the little light of the moon
that, now and then, straggled through the clouds, Ned peered anxiously
into the office. As he had feared he could distinguish nothing. It was
as black as the proverbial pocket.
Ned walked down the steps. As he did so he thought he heard, from within
the mill, a sound, as if a door was slammed. He listened intently.
“I guess I must have fancied it,” he said. “I must be getting nervous.
That won’t do. All the same I would like to have seen what Bill Berry
did when he looked in while the light was there.”
With this thought in mind Ned moved off. The iron mill took up quite a
large space of ground, what would be termed a city block, and there were
streets on three sides of it, besides a road along the river, between
the stream and the mill. A high fence surrounded all but the front
of the mill, though there were gates in it at intervals to admit the
workmen and teams. To get to his home Ned had to go to the farthest end
of the mill fence, and turn up a street there. He was walking toward the
corner, and was close to it, when he heard footsteps approaching.
He hesitated a moment. Then he reflected that he had as much right to
be where he was as any one. The footsteps came nearer and nearer. Then,
as Ned proceeded he turned the corner, and came face to face with Noddy
Nixon!
Just then the moon, which had been hidden by a cloud, came out brightly.
By its gleam Ned could distinguish the bully’s features clearly. They
bore a look of mingled rage and fear.
“Hello, Noddy,” said Ned, resolving in spite of all that had taken
place, to speak friendly. “Fine night, isn’t it?”
“Look here!” burst out Noddy. “Are you spying on me? Can’t I go to the
river to get some fish bait without having every young cub in Cresville
at my heels?”
“I wasn’t spying on you, as you call it,” said Ned quietly, “and if you
think so the less I have to say to you the better off I’ll be.”
“I’ve a mind to knock your head off,” spluttered Noddy. “Just mind your
own business or you’ll get into trouble, and it will be a kind you won’t
like.”
Ned did not deem the remarks worthy of an answer. He turned and was
hurrying past. As he did so he noticed that Noddy held tightly under one
arm a small square box. It seemed to be made of wood. Catching Ned’s
glance at what he carried, Noddy rapidly shifted the box until it was
hidden under his coat. Then, with angry mutterings, he hurried on.
“Rather a queer sort of box to use for his fish bait,” thought Ned. “I
wonder what he was up to, any how? And I wonder what that light in the
mill meant? I’ve had quite a few adventures to-night. Guess I’d better
get home before I meet with any more.”
So he walked rapidly on, and reached his house without further incident.
He soon fell asleep, to dream of being shut up in a small square wooden
box with a big fish, while Noddy Nixon, on a motor-cycle, was riding off
rapidly with the box under his arm.