"Yes," replied Frank, "just headed for bed. Enjoying the fine evening?"
"Well," said the custodian slowly, "I can't say I am. Sort of lonely. Don't be in a rush. Dull and sleepy hanging around this desolate old barracks."
"Why don't you go to bed, then?" suggested Frank. "There's a comfortable cot upstairs there."
"Ugh," responded the custodian, with a grim shudder—"catch me!"
"Why, what's the matter?" pressed Frank, discerning that something really was wrong.
"I believe the place is haunted. I have heard some awful groans."
Frank was interested, and finally said he would go with the watchman and make an investigation. For quarter of an hour they found nothing, then Frank discovered the form of a man lying in the bottom of a disused coal chute. The man was in great pain. Much to the youth's amazement the fellow proved to be Gideon Purnell.
Frank questioned the rascal and found out Purnell had been Wacker's partner in the dishonest mail order scheme. Purnell had fallen down the chute while trying to escape from the marshal. His back was injured and the fellow was in a dy-
