"Who are you?" asked Nan, softly. "Don't be afraid of us. If we can, we will help you. Bring him inside, Walter. It isn't as cold here as it is out of doors. Do come in."
"I'm Hiram Pease," said the strange boy, plainly glad to tell his tale to anybody who showed sympathy. "Miss Vane took me from the poor farm. I'm an orphan. She treated me real mean. And I don't like Mrs. Cupp, either. I don't see how you girls stand her."
"I guess she likes girls better than she does boys," said Nan, quietly.
"And now I bet they have got that money from my great uncle, and I want it!" exclaimed Hiram, who seemed to be of a rather vindictive nature, and not a very pleasant person. He was underfed, undersized, and unhealthy looking.
"How have you lived here all this time?" cried Nan, pitying the boy.
"I stole some of that stuff you girls had for your party," replied Hiram Pease, grinning. "And I took other things. I found that flight of steps up into the cellar of the Hall. So I could get to the kitchen at night.
"And then I worked around for some of the folks that live up on the back road; and others gave me things----"
"And I guess you helped yourself to some of my pigeons and squabs," put in Walter, with some disgust. "I found where you roasted them."
"Well! I had to eat somehow," pleaded Hiram, in defense. "And if I ever get my money, I'll pay you back."
"What'll we do with him?" asked Walter, of the girls.
"You take him home and feed him and give him an old overcoat to wear," said the practical Nan.
"And let him tell your father about his money--if _that's_ true," said Nan, more doubtfully. "Your father is a lawyer. He will know just what to do."
"All right!" cried Walter, again. "I'll do that. Come on, Hiram Beans----"
"All right. Peas or Beans--what's the odds?" said Walter, laughing. "What Nan says to do is always right."
The boys departed, and then the chums hurried back to the hall by the subterranean passage. Nobody had discovered their absence; but afterward they told Dr. Prescott about their adventure, and the door in the partition between the trunk-room and the well was nailed up.
The girls all admitted that it was the very strangest thing that could possibly have happened! The Hall did not seem like itself. The students stood around in groups and talked about it. The reckless ones took advantage of it and did almost as they pleased. The more conscientious pupils said: "We must help Dr. Beulah all we can by being particularly good just now." The younger pupils went past a certain closed door behind the main stairway on the first floor on their tiptoes and with hushed voices.