Page:Ralph on the Railroad.djvu/514

216 "Have you had any strange visitors?" inquired Ralph.

"No—no one hardly ever comes here, except neighbors. Of course there have been a lot of workmen building the switch. But they were harmless, ignorant persons. Got a drink at the well, and went about their business."

"You have noticed no suspicious characters hanging about?" pressed Ralph.

"Oh, no."

"By the way, mother," interposed the young man, "you forgot about the two young fellows who came here day before yesterday—no, the day before that—Tuesday."

"Oh, they were the insurance men."

"What insurance men?" asked Ralph.

"They said they were inspectors. They said they were hired by the insurance companies to look over risks. They asked me if we had any gasoline. I said no. Then they asked if I had any inflammable stuff stored in the attic. They wanted to go up and see, but I told them the attic was empty."

"They wanted to inspect the attic, did they?" murmured Ralph thoughtfully.

"Yes. Then they said they would have to look over the chimneys and roof, to be sure everything was all right."