Cautiously the two sped on in the blackness. Just ahead of them could be seen the group of six, and, from time to time, the twain could hear the voices of the Smith Boys, and their chums, Bateye Jones, Doc Lutken and Norton Tonkin. “Can you hear what they’re saying?” whispered Beantoe. “Naw, but we don’t need to. We’ll just follow ’em.” The six led their shadowers quite a chase, and it was not until half an hour later that the foremost lad turned into a vacant lot that stood on the outskirts of the town. In the middle of the lot was a tumble-down barn and shed, long disused, and useful only as an abiding place for an occasional tramp. “Gee whizz!” exclaimed Beantoe, as he and his crony sank down out of sight in the grass, for the six had come to a halt in front of the ancient structure. “Gee whizz! All this round-about way, when they could have walked down the road to this place in ten minutes.” “That’s all right,” argued Spider. “That shows that something is up. They didn’t want to be seen coming here, and so they went around through the lots. Say, do you know what I think?” “No, but I know what I think! I think we’re chumps for coming after them! What does it amount to, anyhow?” “I’ll tell you,” whispered Spider. “They have a secret society, and they hold meetings here. That’s why they go about it so carefully. But they can’t fool us. We’re right here, and we’ll sneak up, hear all they say, and then where will their secret society be, I’d like to know?” “Do you really think so?” “I’m sure of it. Look, they’re going in the barn.” The two lads who were hiding in the grass, just beyond the fence that enclosed the old shed, raised their heads and looked. Surely enough the Smith boys and their friends were entering the deserted barn. “Let’s go up and listen,” proposed Spider. “No, wait awhile,” advised Beantoe. “Give ’em a chance to get started, and we can hear all they say.” “They’re making a light!” exclaimed Spider. “Sure! Maybe they’re going to initiate new candidates into their society. They think they’re great stuff, but wait until they find out that we know all their secrets and passwords. Then they’ll come down off their high horses.” “Sure! Come on up now. They must be started by this time.” Carefully getting up from their hiding places the two spies cautiously advanced toward the old barn. “They’re lighting up all over,” observed Beantoe eagerly. “Must be going to have a regular celebration.” “I guess so. Come on over on this side. There’s a little window that we can look in.” Spider was leading the way, and, just as he reached the window in question, his companion, as was his habit, unfortunately stumbled over a stone. “Oh, there you go again, Beantoe!” exclaimed Spider wrathfully. “I—I know it,” admitted his crony. “Gee horse, but it hurts!” “Well, keep quiet and come on. I guess—”