Part 30 (2/2)

As they approached, however, the tramp, for George's statement proved to be correct, apparently became aware of their coming and instantly departed.

To the boys it seemed that he had moved around to the other side of the burning building but when they sought him there he was not to be found.

”What do you suppose it all means?” inquired John blankly. ”He acted as if he didn't want to see us.”

”Probably he didn't,” suggested George. ”That's his right.”

”It may be and it may not be,” retorted John. ”I don't believe he will stand very long on the order of his departure.”

”Why not?”

”Probably he could tell more about how the fire started than any one in the crowd.”

”What do you mean?” demanded George as the three boys stopped and stared into the face of their friend.

”I don't know just how much I do mean, but we all know that the tramp used the old Meeker House as a sort of headquarters, or at least that he used to stop there nights, and it may be that he was here when the fire first started.”

”Of course he was,” spoke up John. ”Don't you remember that he told me that if we would come over to the house after dinner, we would see something interesting?”

”Well, all I can say is that we came and that we certainly found something interesting,” said George dryly, as the falling timbers crashed into the fire and great showers of sparks fell all about the waiting boys.

CHAPTER XXV-A TALK WITH THE TRAMP

Following the fall of the walls of the old house, the fire blazed up anew and a fresh shower of sparks fell far from the blazing building.

The crowd was helpless. The only water to be had was from the old well which now had caved in and the small amount which could be secured had been exhausted in the early part of the fire. The timbers were old and dry, and blazed almost like burning paper. The faces and forms of the spectators seemed to be ghostly in the light against the dark background of the night.

For an hour the blaze still continued, but the flames were gradually becoming lower. No longer were there showers of blazing sparks that fell upon the ground far away.

There was only a dim glow when at last Mr. Sanders led the way back to the automobile. The excitement of the boys, however, still continued and when their car started they were all looking back at the spot where the crowd, fantastic in its appearance in the dim light and the glow of the dying fire, were still to be seen.

”Well, there's one thing I feel almost as badly about as I do the loss of the old building,” said John thoughtfully, as the car sped homeward.

”What is that?” inquired George.

”Now we shall never know about the mysteries of the old place.”

”There aren't very many mysteries left,” suggested Fred. ”We have found out about the speaking tube and the chimney-swallows.”

”Yes,” said Grant, ”but how about that blaze?”

”I suspect,” joined in Mr. Sanders, ”that the blaze you speak of had something to do with the burning of the old house.”

”What do you mean?” inquired George quickly.

”That's just what I mean,” replied Mr. Sanders. ”Somebody had a flash-light over there and probably set fire to the building. I haven't any idea who could have done it.”

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