"Barney!" he softly called. "Barney--Barney Mulloy!"
The only answer that came back was a slow and heavy tread, that seemed
to come from a corridor opening out upon the walk along which Barney had
come.
Tramp, tramp, tramp!
The footsteps sounded with great distinctness. Merriwell threw open the
door of his room leading out into this corridor. The light of the lamp
flooded the corridor, and he was able to view it from end to end. He
could have sworn that the footsteps were just beyond his door. But the
corridor was absolutely empty. And the footsteps had ceased.
Frank whistled softly to himself. He was not superstitious, but this was
rather shaking to the nerves. He hurried back to the window and looked
out upon the walk and down the moon-lighted sward. No sound came, save
the dashing of the surf. He leaped through the open window and proceeded
to inspect the grounds in that vicinity. The ghostly form had vanished.
"Hodge!" he called. "Hodge! Come out here."
Hodge, who occupied an adjacent room, and who had been asleep, threw up
a window and looked out.
"Yes," he said. "As soon as I can slip into my clothes. What is it,
Merry?"
"I don't know," Frank confessed. "I wish I did know."
"Of course, there are no such things as ghosts," he declared, when Bart
joined him.
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