ed, for chinks of light came
through the half-closed outside shutters.

The slats of these were turned upwards, to catch light in the daytime
and shut out a view from street and garden.

Just beneath this window was a door and steps. The latter had nearly
rotted away, and the door was nailed up and out of use. A framework
formed of hoop poles rose up from the steps. Once green vines had
enclosed these. At present, however, only a few dead strands clung to
the original framework.

The half-open top of this framework was not three feet under the window
sill of the lighted room. Across it lay some fishing poles and nets,
also some old garden tools, it apparently being used as a catch-all for
useless truck about the place for a long time past.

"I'll assume that aunt is in that room," thought Andy, halting near the
hoop-pole framework and looking up at the window. "She always has the
middle room here. Yes, she is there, and a man with her. Maybe I'd
better skirmish around a little, instead of running the risk of being
nabbed before I can have an explanation. I want a little private talk
with aunt, alone, if I can get it."

Andy bent his ear. He caught no words, only the sound of human voices.
His aunt's high, strained tones were unmistakable.

He seized one of the supporting poles of the framework. It rattled and
quivered, yet he believed it would hold him if he proceeded carefully.
It was no trick at all for Andy to make a quiet and rapid ascent. He
perched across the top of the framework and raised his head.

Andy saw his aunt closing up a packed satchel on a chair. She had her
bonnet on, as if just going out.

At the hallway door was a man taking his leave.

He was excessively polite, hat in hand, and making a most respectful
bow.

"Well!" commented Andy, fairly aghast.

Andy recognized the man instantly. He was the individual he had seen in
the hay barn. He was Daley's companion, the man who had "doctored" the
Benares Brothers' trapeze in the circus at Centreville.

In a flash Andy fancied he understood the situation, the motive of this
fellow's presence here and now.

"Jim Tapp found out my aunt," theorized Andy rapidly. "He, this fellow,
and the mail thieves are all in a crowd. Murdock here has probably come
to tell my aunt that he knows where I am. She may have made a bargain to
pay him well if he will kidnap me, or in any way get me back to
Fairview. It's a fine fix to be in!" concluded Andy bitterly