Dan Carter And The Haunted Castle Part 6

"Someone should call that broken window to his attention," Dan suggested.

"I'll do it," offered Ross. "Having it fixed will spoil a lot of our fun though."

Mr. Kain spent nearly ten minutes looking over the property and then returned to talk to Mr. Hatfield and Midge's father.

"I don't want to put a damper on your good times here," he said apologetically. "But in looking over the grounds I am more than ever impressed with the fire hazard. Boys don't mean to cause trouble, but they are careless with matches."

"Not the Cubs," spoke up Mr. Hatfield. "They know and practice the rules of safety."

"So much dry brush is a distinct danger. I dislike to say the Cubs can't use this property, but-"

"I have an idea," proposed Mr. Holloway, well aware that the bank official intended to forbid the Cubs from filming their picture on the grounds. "The boys will pitch in and clear out some of the brush."

Mr. Kain was both pleased and astonished by the offer.

"That would be fine!" he declared. "In that case, we have no objection whatsoever to the property being used."

The three men discussed what work should be done before Mr. Kain returned to the city.

"Let's get at it right away," proposed Brad. "We can map our areas and have each Cub responsible for a certain section."

"Why doesn't the bank clean its own rubbish?" Ross growled. "I can't help because I've got to go home and get into dry clothes."

"I'll take you," Mr. Holloway offered again. "We'll pick up rakes and return by lunch time."

The proposal rather displeased Ross, who never liked to work. But knowing that the other Cubs would call him a quitter if he made an excuse for not returning to the castle grounds, he scowled and made no reply.

After Mr. Holloway and Ross had driven away, the others marked the area into sections and then set about clearing away the debris.

Loose brush was acc.u.mulated in a large bare spot near the road ready for burning. The Cubs worked with a will and by the time Ross and Mr.

Holloway came back with garden tools, were fairly well along.

"Ross, your section is that area behind the castle," Brad gave him his a.s.signment.

"My section? Say, I'm all tired out from archery practice and chasing back and forth. What does that bank guy think we are anyhow? Work horses?"

"We gave our promise to clean up the grounds and we're going to do it."

"Well, I'm tired," Ross said sullenly, flinging himself on the ground.

"Besides, it's almost lunch time."

"You can clean your section later," Brad consented. "Just so you get the job done in the next day or so. By the way, you told Mr. Kain about the broken window?"

"No, I didn't."

Then, as Brad fixed him with a disapproving gaze, Ross added with a flare of temper: "I didn't get a chance to do it. I'll tell him the next time he comes around."

"Don't bother," Brad replied shortly. "I'll tell him myself when I see him."

As the sun rose higher, all the Cubs began to look forward to lunch.

Unaccustomed to such heavy work, they felt the need of a rest.

"All right, fellows, knock off," Mr. Hatfield advised them. "You've put in a big morning. Rest awhile and then we'll eat."

Dan and Brad took advantage of the lull to roam around the castle. Both boys were fascinated by its unusual design and old-world appearance.

"It's queer about that laughter I heard from the woods," Dan commented thoughtfully. "We've seen no one, and yet I'm sure someone was watching us."

"Maybe it came from the castle," Brad suggested, gazing up at the shadowy turrets. "With that window broken, any tramp could get inside."

"How about taking another look?" Dan proposed. "We'll have time for a quick search through the house before lunch."

"Okay," Brad agreed after a slight hesitation.

Unfastening the window latch, the boys climbed through.

As he straightened up, Dan sniffed the air suspiciously.

"Say, I smell something!" he announced.

Brad also had noticed the odor. "Smoke!" he agreed. "Something's burning!

It's inside the castle too!"

Thoroughly alarmed, the boys darted from room to room. Running through a butler's pantry they came to a huge kitchen with row upon row of shelves.

At one end of the room was a fireplace. To the amazement of the boys, a fire had been built there. A few of the larger sticks still smoldered.

"Someone has been in here since we came!" Brad exclaimed.

"Do you suppose one of the Cubs could have built the fire, Brad?"

"The fellows all have been working," Brad replied, deeply puzzled.

"Besides, everyone heard Mr. Kain warn about starting fires."

Dan had lowered his voice. "This just goes to prove that I was right," he declared. "I did hear laughter while we were filming the creek scene.

Someone was watching us-either from the woods or this castle."

"The bird still may be here too, Dan. Let's look around."

Quietly the boys went from room to room. No one could be found on the lower floor. Yet as they climbed the circular staircase to the second floor, Dan again thought he heard faint laughter from below.

"You imagined it, Dan," Brad insisted.

"Maybe, but this house has a dozen and one hiding places. It would be easy for anyone to keep out of our way."

"I wouldn't want to go through this place at night," Brad said with a shiver. "It's spooky enough by daytime. The bank will be smart to get that window fixed and board up the place."

Decidedly uneasy, the boys tramped from one bed chamber to another. All the rooms were large and at least half of them had fireplaces. They found no further evidence that anyone was in the dwelling.