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           Colonel!"

           Theonlyanswerwasthedustsiftingdownandaroundthespiralstairwellfromabove.Thentherewasafaintstirinthatunderseachamberatthefarendofthehall.

           Theymovedcarefullyalongandpeeredintoroomwhichcontainedbuttwopiecesoffurniture-anoldmanandachair.Theyresembledeachother,bothsothinyoucouldseejusthowtheyhadbeenputtogether,ballandsocket,sinewandjoint.Therestoftheroomwasrawfloorboards,nakedwallsandceiling,andvastquantitiesofsilentair.

           "Helooksdead,"whisperedDouglas.

           "No,he’sjustthinkingupnewplacestotravelto,"saidCharlie,veryproudandquiet."Colonel?"

           Oneofthepiecesofbrownfurnituremovedanditwasthecolonel,blinkingaround,focusing,andsmilingawildandtoothlesssmile."Charlie!"

           "Colonel,DougandJohnherecameto—"

           "Welcome,boys;sitdown,sitdown!"

           Theboyssat,uneasily,onthefloor.

           "Butwhere’sthe—"saidDouglas.Charliejabbedhisribsquickly.

           "Where’sthewhat?"askedColonelFreeleigh.

           "Where’sthepointinustalking,hemeans."CharliegrimacedatDouglas,thensmiledattheoldman."Wegotnothingtosay.Colonel,yousaysomething."

           "Beware,Charlie,oldmenonlylieinwaitforpeopleto’askthemtotalk.Thentheyrattleonlikearustyelevatorwheezingupashaft."

           "ChingLingSoo,"suggestedCharliecasually.

           "Eh?"saidthecolonel.

           "Boston,"Charlieprompted,"1910."

           "Boston,1910..."Thecolonelfrowned.