“I hated that fat man from the first,” said Ritter viciously. “I was sure there was something queer about him.”
“There is, all right,” agreed Cavvy with conviction. “If he isn’t running a secret wireless, he’s doing something else underhand. Otherwise why is he living in this tumbledown ruin away from everything? Why didn’t he answer our knocking until we pretty near broke the door down? There’s something crooked about him, you can bank on that.”
“Gee-whiz! I’ll bet you’re right, Cavvy!” exclaimed McBride. “What are you going to do? Tell Mr. Wendell, or the police?”
Cavanaugh’s face took on a faintly troubled expression. “I don’t see how we can do either just yet,” he answered. “You see, we really don’t _know_ anything. There’s nothing but those wires to go on. If I could only get up that tree I’d be sure one way or another.”
“But you can’t do that,” said Ferris quickly. “He’d be sure to see you.”
“Not after dark,” returned Cavvy pointedly.
“What!” protested Ritter, his face falling. “Wait all that time! Why, it’d be ages. And we’d probably get wet to the skin. The rain can’t hold off much longer.”
“You give me a pain, Rit,” said Micky scathingly. “What the dickens does a little rain matter when we’ve got a chance like this? You oughtn’t to howl. You’re so well padded you wouldn’t feel it. Besides, it won’t be long at all. It’ll be good and dark by half past five on a night like this. I’m game to stay, Cavvy. So’s Champ, aren’t you, old kid?”
Ferris acquiesced, though not quite with McBride’s eager impulsiveness. The woods were cold and dreary and the possibilities ahead of them did not fill him with delight. But he was too keen an admirer of Jimmy Cavanaugh to risk losing the other’s good opinion. Finally, with the other three against him, Ritter gave in, though with much grumbling and complaint, and a good deal more secret apprehension, and leaving the path they found a more secluded spot back in the undergrowth in which to pass their vigil.
This did not prove so long or so tedious as some of them expected. They were wrought-up and excited, and there were plans to make and possibilities to discuss. Moreover, the early twilight, hastened by the lowering clouds, fell swiftly. Long before six it was quite dark. Twenty minutes later Cavvy decided that it was time to move.