Andy and Pepper did not reply. In the dim light of the little storeroom they looked at each other questioningly. They were in a serious predicament. What would be the outcome of this remarkable adventure? CHAPTER IX A SEND-OFF FOR JOSIAH CRABTREE Andy and Pepper heard the old man leave the dining room and then, excepting for the occasional rumble of thunder in the distance, all became quiet around them. The sudden shower was passing away to the eastward, and soon the rain ceased. “Well, if this isn’t the worst yet!” exclaimed the acrobatic youth, after looking at the narrow window with its iron bars. “Pep, this is as bad as the lock-up at the school!” “Right you are, Andy. We are certainly prisoners.” “And accused of attempted burglary!” “I don’t believe anybody in Cedarville will believe that charge, after we tell our story.” “No, but they may think we were up to some trick—especially after that affair of the bell clapper.” “Wonder if he’ll come back?” “He’ll come soon enough if we try to break out of here.” Each of the boys tried to open the door. But the key was still on the other side and they could not turn it. “Not a thing to smash it down with either,” said Pepper, gazing around the storeroom. The apartment contained nothing but some odds and ends of books and bric-a-brac and an old ice-box which was empty. Pepper knocked on the door, but for several minutes there was no reply to this summons. Then came the nervous tones of Jabez Trask. “You keep quiet, or I’ll shoot right through the door!” shrilled the old man. “I’ve got ye! You can’t get away!” “We want to talk this matter over,” said The Imp. “Not now. You can do your talking after I have put you in the hands of the law!” And then the old man seemed to walk to another part of the mansion. “We have got to get out somehow!” said Andy in a low voice. “I’ve got an idea!” answered Pepper. “Let us examine the floor. Maybe some of the boards are loose.” Both boys got down and lit matches and examined the floor with care. Pepper moved the old ice-box in doing this, and a long ice-pick fell from it. “Hurrah, I can use this as a pry!” said the cadet. “Wait till I find a board that looks a little loose.” Presently he found a board that looked inviting and he managed to get the ice-pick in the crack beside it. By working with care he loosened one end of the board and it came up several inches. “A coal cellar below,” he said, as he caught sight of some shiny pieces of coal. “Well, if we can get into that cellar I guess we can get out of the house,” answered his chum. Making as little noise as possible, the two cadets raised up the board and then took up that next to it. This left an opening just wide enough for them to squeeze through. They looked down and saw that the coal was but a few feet beneath them.