Hodge was unable to speak at first.

Merry noticed his manner and the look in his staring eyes, and sprang to the window.
As he did so, the ghostly form vanished into the shadow, and again those steps were heard in the corridor.
"If Barney is dead, that was his spirit, sure enough!" Hodge whispered, in an awed way.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, tramp! The steps echoed in the corridor.

Even Merriwell's stout heart was assailed by a feeling that was like superstitious dread.
"It looked just like him!" "The very picture of him, only white-faced, as if he had just come out of the grave!" Tramp, tramp, tramp! sounded the steps in the corridor.
"Open the door, Merry, for God's sake!" Hodge gasped, as if the words choked him.

"See if there isn't something in the corridor! There must be!" Merriwell stepped to the door and flung it open.

Instantly the sounds ceased.
"Somebody is playing a joke on us, I believe!" Bart declared, and anger came to drive out the superstitious feeling that had shaken him.