Part 21 (1/2)

The ”people” shrank back out of the way.

”I'm going to do some damage, Mr. Presby. At least I think I am.”

Richard Presby nodded.

Bob stepped close to the wall, moved back three or four feet, then slowly swung the maul in a circle and let drive with all the force at his command against the side of the wall. The maul landed with a tremendous report.

A most remarkable thing followed, sending the occupants of the room rus.h.i.+ng for the staircase, the women uttering cries of alarm. Bob staggered backwards and sat down heavily on the floor. His experiment had been attended with greater success than he had even dreamed were possible. It had been followed by a terrific crash. A cloud of dust filled the room, the structure vibrated as if from a slight earthquake shock, then quiet once more settled over the gloomy attic of Treasureholme.

CHAPTER XV

AN AMAZING OCCURRENCE

BOB was on his feet again ere the dust had settled in the room.

”Don't be alarmed,” he cried. ”There is no danger so long as you keep away from that part.i.tion. That is where the trouble lies.”

”Where--where is the hammer?” cried Grace.

Stevens stepped forward and looked for the maul on the floor near the baseboard, but finally glanced up with a perplexed expression in his eyes.

”The maul has disappeared, too,” he said.

There was a gasp following this announcement. But the young man was not disturbed.

”I understand a little of what all this means,” he said. ”The maul has gone. If someone will get me an axe I will chop down this part.i.tion near where I struck it with the maul.”

”Is there some secret there?” whispered Mr. Presby over Bob's shoulder.

The young man nodded.

”Yes. I have an idea what it is. However, we shall see.”

When the axe was brought he chose his location with some care, then began chopping away, swinging the axe in a manner that showed him to be no novice at that sort of work. The axe went through the part.i.tion soon after that. Using the back of the tool, he began smas.h.i.+ng in the boards, here and there employing the blade to cut through a scantling or a brace. Soon after he had laid open a dark recess behind the part.i.tion.

Tom pushed forward and was about to crawl in when the young man stopped him.

”Better be careful, young man! That may be a pitfall, and I suspect that it is.”

The others were too amazed to speak. Still another secret in the old house had been revealed. But the sudden disappearance of the maul was still unexplained, though Stevens had his own idea about this. He began cutting further. A tremendous crash followed a moment of chopping. He sprang back to await developments. There were none.

”There, I think I have drawn the monster's teeth,” he said, reaching for a lantern. ”One of you will please hold another lantern at the entrance here. I may need help.”

Ruth Stuart s.n.a.t.c.hed a lantern from one of the countrymen and stepped promptly up beside the young man. He nodded.

”Do not try to follow me in here unless I tell you to. I must first find out what is in here.”

”Do you think they are there?” she asked in a half whisper.

”Yes. Probably below somewhere,” he answered, thrusting the lantern ahead of him and crawling into the opening he had made.