Hugh did so, and a huge gray rat scuttled across the floor, startling the boys so that they almost cried out. Little by little their courage returned, however, and they advanced a few steps. They listened intently, but no sound came to their ears. Hugh's flashlight revealed the stairs leading to the first floor and stepping noiselessly the boys approached. Slowly and very cautiously they ascended and presently came to the top of the stairs. Bob was in the lead, his pistol gripped tightly in one hand. With his free hand he pushed the door open gently and looked within. The kitchen was deserted, a broken-down stove in one corner, a water heater covered with dirt and rust, a sagging sink, and two battered chairs and a table completing the furnishings. A soft breeze entered through a broken window and gently stirred the strip of wall paper hanging limply from the ceiling. Bob beckoned to Hugh and they emerged into the room. They listened intently. Not a sound was to be heard. Reassured they passed out of the kitchen through a narrow back hall, and into the parlor. The same aspect of neglect and decay was everywhere evident, but nothing suspicious was to be seen. "Shall we go upstairs?" whispered Bob. "We might as well. I don't believe there's any one here anyway." The stairs leading to the second floor creaked and groaned under the weight of the boys, but as they were now convinced that the house was uninhabited they were not worried. Coming to the second story they proceeded to the room located in the front of the house. "This must be the place," whispered Bob excitedly. A table stood in the center of the room; around it were grouped five seats, chairs and old boxes, as if five men had had a meeting or conference there. "This is where they had their meeting last night," said Hugh. "Here are places for five men, and we saw that many come out." "Yes, sir," echoed Bob. "This looks like headquarters." "Suppose we could expose them," exclaimed Hugh. "Wouldn't it be great?" "If we only could," said Bob eagerly. "Let's look around." Pen and ink, together with a pad of writing paper were lying on the table. Besides the table and seats, however, there was no furniture in the room, and there seemed small promise of anything of interest to the two searchers. They lifted every box and searched under it, but all in vain. Finally Bob looked behind the door. With an exclamation of delight he stooped and picked up a piece of paper lying upon the floor. "What is it, Bob?" inquired Hugh eagerly. "I don't know. I can't see very well." "Bring it over here by the window. It's awfully dark and gloomy in this room." Bob followed this suggestion, and presently was reading what was written on the paper. Hugh looked on over his shoulder. "'List of places to be attacked.'" Bob read. "'Railroad bridge, Court House, Armory, National Cartridge Company, High Ridge Steel Company. More to be added later.'"