When the boys arrived at the familiar place in the road they were
startled by a renewal of the shouts from the house. It was the faint
sound of these calls which had alarmed them and caused them to turn back
on their way.
Even while they were hesitating as to whether or not they should leave
the car and run to the house to aid their friends, who apparently were
in dire trouble, they saw two forms emerge from the front door. They
instantly recognized George and Grant, for the light was still
sufficient to enable them to see quite plainly across the fields. Both
boys were running at their highest speed.
Blowing the horn of the automobile and shouting, both John and Fred did
their utmost to call the attention of their friends to the fact that
they were awaiting their coming. That their calls were heard was
speedily manifest when both George and Grant, turning slightly in the
direction in which they were speeding, ran toward the great tree.
At that moment George stumbled over some unseen object and fell headlong
upon the ground. His companion stopped a moment and Fred and John
watched him as he lifted George to his feet and then both boys renewed
their flight.
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.