Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Library

Fantasy Football Challenge - Library of Books for Football Fanatics

Fantasy Football Challenge presents
The Triple Alliance

28 of 65

our next-door neighbour is called 'The Hermit.' He's a queer old fellow, who lives by himself, and never makes friends or speaks to any one. He's supposed to be very clever, and I've heard it said that he's got a very valuable collection of coins, and is quite an authority on the subject; it's one of his hobbies." "I suppose," said Mugford thoughtfully, "that as he's a hermit that's why his place is called The Hermitage." "Well done, Mug!" said Jack, speaking with his mouth pretty full; "you're getting quite sharp." "Yes, that's it," continued Mr. Vance, laughing. "The old man's away from home just now; he was suffering from rheumatism very badly, and the doctor ordered him to a course of treatment at some baths." The conversation turned on other topics, and when at length they rose from the table, Jack proposed a stroll round the garden. There were many things to see--some pet rabbits, a swing, and an old summer-house, which Jack, being, we should say, of a decidedly nautical turn of mind, had turned into a sort of miniature shipbuilding yard for the construction of model vessels; though at present the chief use to which the place seemed to have been put was the production of a great amount of chips and shavings. "I say," exclaimed the owner, after he and his friends had amused themselves for some time boring holes in the door with a brace, "I know what we'll do: let's go over and explore The Hermitage!" Anything with a spice of excitement in it was meat and drink to Diggory. He immediately seconded the proposition, and Mugford, after a moment's hesitation, agreed to join his companions in the enterprise. They strolled off down the path, and soon reached a long stretch of brick wall, the top of which was thickly covered with fragments of broken bottles. "There's a place down at the other end where we can get over," said Jack. "I smashed the glass with a hammer, because I lost a ball and had to climb over and get it, one day last holidays." The Hermitage was surrounded on all sides by a thick mass of shrubs and trees, through which a moment later the Triple Alliance were cautiously threading their way. Emerging from the bushes, they found themselves standing on a gravel path, green with moss and weeds, which ran round the house--a queer, dilapidated-looking building, which seemed sadly in want of repair: the plaster was cracked and discoloured, while the doors and windows had long stood in need of a fresh coating of paint. "I say," whispered Mugford, "hadn't we better go back? what if the old chap's at home!" "Oh, it's all right; there's nobody about," answered Jack. "Let's go on and see what the place is really like." They tip-toed round the building. It was evidently unoccupied, though the delightful sense of uncertainty that at any moment some one might pounce out upon them or walk down the drive made the questionable adventure very charming. "Have you ever been inside?" asked Diggory. "No, rather not; I don't think any one has except the doctor, and an old woman who comes in to do the house-work." "Well, then, I'm going in," answered Diggory, with a twinkle in his eye. "Go on! Why, you might be had up for house-breaking!" "Rubbish! I'm not going to steal anything.--Here, Mug, lend me your knife a minute." "I don't believe this one's fastened," he continued, walking up to one of the windows. "No, it isn't. Bother! I'm awfully sorry, Mugford." Using the big blade of the clasp-knife as a lever, Diggory had just succeeded in raising the sash the fraction of an inch, when the steel suddenly snapped off short at the handle. "Oh, never mind," said the owner; "let's go back now. What if we're seen!" "Oh, there's no fear of that," answered Jack, who was always infected with the adventurous spirit of his chum.--"Go on, Diggy; I'll come too." By inserting their fingers in the aperture, the boys soon raised the sash, and a few seconds later Diggory mounted the ledge and scrambled through the window "Come on," he said; "the coast's all clear." Jack Vance joined him immediately, and Mugford, not wishing to be left alone outside, was not long in making up his mind to follow his companions. The room in which the three boys found themselves was evidently a library or study. Book-shelves, and cupboards with glass doors, containing geological and other specimens, occupied much of the wall space; while in the centre of the floor stood a large writing-table, covered with a miscellaneous collection of pens, ink-pots, bundles of papers, and a polished mahogany box which could easily be recognized as a microscope-case. The intruders stood for a few moments gazing round in silence. The place did not look very interesting, and smelt rather damp and mouldy. "I say," exclaimed Jack Vance, "look there: he don't seem very careful how he leaves his things when he goes away." As he spoke he pointed across to the opposite side of the room, where, between two bookcases, an iron safe had been let into the wall. The heavy door was standing half open, while the floor beneath was strewn with a quantity of shallow wooden trays lined with green baize. "Old bachelors are always untidy," remarked Diggory. "Let's see where this door leads to." He turned the handle as he spoke, and walked out into a gloomy little hall paved with cold, bare flagstones, which caused their footsteps to waken mournful echoes in the empty house. "I say, you fellows, don't let's go any further," murmured Mugford;" we've seen enough now. Suppose the old chap came back and--" He never reached the end of the sentence, for Diggory suddenly raised his hand, exclaiming in a whisper, "Hark! what was that?" The loud ticking of Mugford's old turnip of a watch was distinctly audible in the silence which followed. "What is it, Diggy? what--" "Hark! there it is again; listen." The suspense became awful. At length Diggory dropped his hand. "Didn't you hear footsteps?" he asked. "I'm certain there's some one walking about on the gravel path." "We shall be caught," whimpered Mugford; "I knew we should. What can we do?" "Bolt!" answered Diggory, and began tip-toeing back towards the library door. "Stay here half a 'jiffy,'" he added; "I'll go and reconnoitre." Ages seemed to pass while Jack Vance and Mugford stood in the dark

28 of 65 pages. Go to page:

Go to this Book's Directory Page