“I am going to put an extra spring-lock on it.” “Oh, I see; you’re fixing it to keep the spook out.” “No; I’m fixing it to keep the spook in!” “Hey? Great horn spoon! What—what if—I don’t understand, anyhow.” “I’ll explain.” “Go ahead.” “I shall put the spring-lock on the door, but it will not be used in the daytime. I shall fix it so that it will work at night.” “Still I don’t see——” “Wait. When we go to bed at night I shall leave the regular lock on; but I have a method by which I can cause the spring-lock to work if the door is opened and closed during the night. If Mr. Spook takes a fancy to come in here, the spring in the hinges of the door will cause it to close behind him, the spring-lock will fasten it, and Mr. Spook will be trapped.” “But you think——” “I think our spook is some fellow who has keys to fit the doors of a number of rooms. He can open the ordinary lock on this door, for he came here and carried off your penknife, which Chester Arlington afterward dropped.” “Arlington is the spook.” “Perhaps so. It seems that way. I did not tell you that, after the New Era game, while the crowd was pawing me over, another note was thrust into my hands, did I?” “No.” “Well, that was what happened. Of course, I couldn’t tell who put it there.” “What did it say?” “It said ‘Search Chester Arlington’s room and see what you will find if you wish to clear mystery of the spook.’” “Great tarantulas! And you—what did you do?” “I waited. Since then several articles stolen from fellows here have been returned to them in a mysterious way.” “Which makes you think—what?” “Arlington returned them. Perhaps he became frightened. Perhaps he felt that he didn’t need them any longer after Fardale defeated New Era and he won his bets.” “He’s a skunk, pard! I reckon he’s a regular kleptomaniac.” “But the robberies have started up again. I want you to help me spread the report that we think it strange we have not been robbed of anything valuable. I want you to say that we don’t take much stock in it, as we leave things lying around every night that are worth taking. I will say the same things. Get the fellows to repeating it. I want the spook to visit us.” “I see, pard,” nodded Brad. “I’ll do it.” This plan was carried out by them, and two nights later the “spook” paid them a visit. Dick it was who heard him moving with a rustling sound in the room. As Merriwell sat up the spook went rustling toward the door. Dick jumped out of bed and saw a white form at the door. “Hey, Brad!” he shouted. “We’ve got him! Come on!” The Texan rose, uttering a snort. The white object seemed trying to open the door, but it resisted his efforts. “No use,” declared Dick triumphantly. “The trap is sprung, and you’re caught!” He advanced on the spook, who turned, uttering a low snarl. Dick saw an uplifted hand, dodged, clutched a very real wrist, held fast and closed with the fellow. “Light up, Brad!” he cried.