Part 25 (1/2)
The traer of that class--the man, then, smiled
”Decker is h most of my friends--what few I have left--call me Mort As I consider you a friend of mine, you may do so, Herbert You see I know your name, for you're sort of a public character”
”I don't know about that, but I'otten a place, Mort”
”Yes, after et some work to do here if possible I heard that the ht he rapher and typewriter I learned who lived there, but when I inquired at the place an old woone away”
”I believe he has, but there see queer about it,”
said Bert ”No one saw hih he never used to be seen limpses of him
Now no one has seen him for some time”
”So it appears But the old wo man to talk to me He was Alfred Muchmore, Mr
Stockton's nephew, and, after I had told hied me”
”I didn't think he had any work you could do,” said Bert, recalling the ruambler
”Well, he has quite a lot of business papers to copy, and I a that for hiether like the place”
”Why not?”
Mort Decker cah no one was then near the the engine, refilling it, and putting it in the barn, to pay attention to anything else
”There's so queer about that house,” said Mort in a whisper
”Queer? How do you o into so down a long corridor, when he called me back, and said those were his private apartoing into a roos, for I am very fond of pictures, but Mr Muchmore thrust me back, and seemed quite excited
Then, too, the housekeeper see nephew
I believe there is some secret connected with that house”
”So do I,” declared Bert, and he told Mort of his experience when the fire had occurred
”I'll keep ,” pro I'll let you know I can't invite you to call and see me, for I'et I'll come down and see you”
”I wish you would,” replied Bert ”You'll generally find ine houses, at least until school opens Then I've got to begin ood-bye,” said Mort, as he left, while Bert went to the barn, to see that the chemical tank was properly filled, in readiness for an alarm
As yet, beyond the one blaze in a sines had not been tested at a real fire, nor had the new alarm syste the department to respond quickly Several boxes had been installed in different parts of the town, all running to the two fire-houses, as the basenated By nals, given on a gong, it could be told at once which box was pulled In addition the new bell on the tall steel toould ring an alarm to awaken those members of the depart of the fire departht, in Cole's barn, where various matters were talked over, and the boys had not dispersed more than an hour, when there sounded an alar out on the apparatus in Cole's barn, the number of a box located near the Stockton mansion
”There's another fire at the house of iven the nation ”Come on, fellows Let's see if we can't do better this tiine”