Hans.
"I pelief I vos going to be sick alretty yet."

One of the boys held the light, while they all looked under the table,
but they did not find anything there.

"Now, that is singular," commented Harvey Dare. "If that wasn't a
groan, I never heard one in my life."

"And a real ghostly groan at that!" said Leslie Gage.

"I never did take any stock in this rot about ghosts, but----"

"Beware, young man, how you mock at the spirits of the departed!"

The voice seemed to come from one of the alcove bedrooms, and it was of
the sort to make the hair stand on the head of a superstitious person.

"Oh, dunder und blitzen!" panted Hans. "Dot vos a shook! Uf I don't
ged avay oud uf here righd off, I peen gone grazy! I don'd vant any
shook in mine!"

"It is some fellow playing a joke on us," said Harvey Dare, angrily.
"Some one has concealed himself in there. Bring the light, fellows,
and we will soon find out."

He started for the alcove, but no one seemed anxious to take the light
and follow him. After a moment, however, Frank did so.

All through both alcoves Harvey searched, and his face was rather pale
when he and Frank returned to the table.

"What did you find?" asked Wat Snell, thickly.

"Not a thing but dust," replied Harvey. "There hasn't been a living
soul in either of those bedrooms since the room was closed after the
suicide."

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the hollow voice. "You are right. They dare not
come, but I am doomed to stay here till this building shall crumble and
decay."

"Vell, you may sday till der cows come home!" gurgled Hans; "but I
don'd peen caught in here any more bretty soon righd avay, you pet!"
and he made a break for the door.

The others quickly extinguished the light, and followed him.

There would be no more gatherings in that room.

CHAPTER IX.

IN THE MESHES.

Frank Merriwell fancied he had hit upon a scheme to stop the card games
from which he could not remain away. Being a skilled ventriloquist, he
was the author of the dismal groans and the mysterious voice that had
so alarmed the boys.

Bart was not in the secret, and so he wondered, when he heard Frank
chuckling to himself, after they had safely reached their room and were
getting into bed.

For several days the "gang" was disconsolate, having no place in which
they could play a game of cards without fear of detection at any
instant.

Frank Merriwell seemed restored to his usual jolly self. He