Page:Stanwood Pier--Harding of St Timothys.djvu/87

Rh "S-sh!" said Harry.

The doctor was entering the hall. Through the thin partition the boys could hear the creak of the boards under his feet, and then his cheerful greeting, "How are you, Shoop?"

They heard everything with the most terrifying distinctness. There was not much relief to the tension, even when they heard him pass the door and go up the stairs. They knew that they were prisoners as long as he remained in the house.

In another moment they heard him in the room above. After moving round for a while he evidently seated himself in a rocking-chair and rocked and rocked.

The boys cautiously, one by one, got themselves into more comfortable positions.

"Whew! That was a narrow escape!" Herrick said, under his breath.

"Do you suppose Shoop will squeal on us?" Albree whispered anxiously.

"No, he'd have no object." But in spite of this assertion, they all felt very distrustful of the furtive, mean-looking little man.