The
others grouped round Merriwell and Bart.
"You see it?" Frank whispered.
"Let me out of this!" the landlord gurgled, though no hand was
restraining him. "Booh-h-h! Let me out of this. Ah-h-h-h-h! It's a
ghost, sure enough! Don't you see that white cloth on its head--a bloody
white cloth?"
He seemed about to tumble over in a fit.
"He's coming this way!" Merry whispered. "Just keep still now, all of
you!"
Rattleton seemed about to bolt from the place, though the others were
bravely standing their ground.
"No ghost there!" said Browning. "That's a live man."
"It's Barney," Merry declared. "He is not dead. His head is tied up."
"But what makes the--him sneak along in that way?" Rattleton gasped.
"Whee-giz, it makes my blood run cold! Ugh!"
"Just keep still, and we shall soon find out!" Frank sharply commanded,
in a whisper.
The ghostly figure came slowly up the walk. Nearer and nearer it drew,
walking as if it did not fear discovery at that late hour.
"There is another!" Rattleton whispered.
The figure of a woman came into view, hurrying rapidly along the path
after Mulloy, and seeming to be in pursuit of him, though he appeared
not to know it.
"Now!" Merry whispered. "Ready, Hodge--now!"
He leaped through the window, with Bart at his side.
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