The River Motor Boat Boys on the Mississippi; Or, On the Trail to the Gulf

mbler, waiting for Case's call to breakfast, the advance odors of which were creeping out of

side; and there's a loop of river which runs north a long way and comes back again. Some day the Mississippi will cut through th

t beside himself on the gunwale of the boat. Captain Joe came up to the boys as they sat there

bulldog wants?" Ale

He wants to get off the boat and do stunts

old house!" Alex. su

ranch and see what sort of a place it is? We'll jus

from the Rock Island warehouse may be hidden in some dusty attic!

ut some washout left it back so far that it was deserted. It looks like there might be ghosts hiding in it right now! Do you hear anything?" the boy added, as he

omething ghostly! If I were rich once for every ghost there is in the world, I wou

" was the reply. "I believe all the calls f

Captain Joe with us when we go to the house? If there's a ghost b

irit on board and put it with our collection of animals! And there's the bre

an hour, entered the cabin before breakfast was over, hi

of the towns hereabouts and brings back some bolts," he said. "The motors

boat," declared Case. "I have a not

current?" asked Alex

t in a thousand ye

e river, "there's New Madrid, on the Missouri

r. "Why do you say up there? New Madrid is north from

at robbery anyway, and there may be news of it; besides, a walk along the river

"You are not used to such long walks. We are in no hurry to go

the others looked over the country which lay about them. When Alex. suggested the visit to the deserted house, Clay

ave only Mose and Teddy Bear on board the Rambler

emain here to-day and visit the old building to

ater, and so there was little current, which made it easy rowing. In half an hour they were at the foot of an old pier, slanti

ess of trees and shrubs in the enclosure, and the walks, which had evidently once been carefully tended, were now overgrown with weeds and lon

e breeze, and the trees which rimmed the enclosure rustled and creaked in a most uncann

reat distance. The notes, faint, sweet, perplexing, rose and fell on the

though there was a question in the way the words w

the window blinds, beating the casings at the will of the wind, and at th

any one lives h

d Jule. "If that isn't some one playing the

s was being dragged through the hall. Then a shriek which appeared to come from directly under the feet of the boys cut the air, lif

thout knowing more abo

can't turn tail and run like a couple of cowards.

looked like his heart was broken when we came off w

he steps, and passed into the ancient hallway of the mansion. All was ruin and decay there. The floor was broke

lads stopped at the foot of the steps for an instant to gaze upward and then turned into a lofty roo

he floor showed where a fire had been kindled. The rooms on that floor were all desolate a

usic began again. It seemed to come down the wide hallway

arer to the band!

rd, uncanny atmosphere, that, somehow, the boys

a reception committee

stling sound and the shriek which had been heard before. This time the noise indicati

n which shut off the north end of it. There was a door in this partition,

ted away," Alex. observed, as red-faced and pe

," Jule decided. "Suppose we try the door once

ed. There was a wide fireplace at the back of the room, which was at the end of the house, and a chair standing near the hearth was softly cushioned. There wa

to some one's hous

" Alex. returned. "Wha

of the mystery," Jule answered. "It may be t

and looked again through the broken panels of the door at

cane, came into the room and sat down in the chair by the hearth. Then,

stened, boys. You a

and the old man pointed to two chairs by the hear

with an air of command, "a

n there came a sharp click, and they fe