CHAPTER XXI
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HAUNTED HOUSE
The moment that Grace left Marian, she set her active brain at work forsome solution of the problem she had taken upon her own shoulders. Shehad no money, and the members of her sorority had none. Besides, Graceinwardly resolved not to tell the other girls were it possible to avoiddoing so.
Mrs. Gray would be home before long, and Grace knew that the gentle oldlady would gladly advance the money rather than see Marian disgraced.But Eleanor had planned to denounce Marian on Thursday, and it was nowMonday.
There was but one course to pursue, and that was to go to Eleanor andbeg her to renounce her scheme of vengeance. Grace felt very dubious asto the outcome of such an interview. Eleanor had in the past provedanything but tractable.
"I'll go to-night," decided Grace. "I'm not afraid of the dark. Ifmother objects, I'll take Bridget along for protection, although she'sthe greatest coward in the world."
Grace giggled a little as she thought of Bridget in the role ofprotector.
That night she hurried through her supper, and, barely tasting herdessert, said abruptly:
"Mother, may I go to Eleanor Savelli's this evening?"
"Away out to 'Heartsease,' Grace? Who is going with you?"
"No one," replied Grace truthfully. "Mother, please don't say no. Isimply must see Eleanor at once."
"But I thought that you were not friendly with Eleanor," persisted Mrs.Harlowe.
"That is true," Grace answered, "but just now that is the very thing Iwant to be. It's this way, mother. Eleanor is going to try to make sometrouble for Marian Barber in the class, and I must act at once if it isto be prevented."
"More school-girl difficulties," commented Mrs. Harlowe, with a smile."But how does it happen that you always seem to be in the thick of thefight, Grace?"
"I don't know, mother," sighed Grace. "No one dislikes quarrels morethan I do. May I go?"
"Yes," assented her mother, "but you must take Bridget with you. I'llsee her at once and tell her to get ready."
It had been a raw, disagreeable day, and towards evening a cold rain hadset in that was practically half snow. It was anything but an enviablenight for a walk, and Bridget grumbled roundly under her breath as shewrapped herself in the voluminous folds of a water-proof cape and tookdown a huge, dark-green cotton umbrella from its accustomed nail behindthe kitchen door.
"Miss Grace do be crazy to be goin' out this night. It's rheumatics Ishall have to-morrow in all me bones," she growled.
She plodded along at Grace's side with such an injured expression thatGrace felt like laughing outright at the picture of offended dignitythat she presented.
Grace chatted gayly as they proceeded and Bridget answered her sallieswith grunts and monosyllables. When they reached the turn of the roadGrace said:
"Bridget, let's take the short cut. The walking is good and we'll saveten minutes' time by doing it."
"Phast that haunted house?" gasped Bridget. "Niver! May the saintspresarve us from hants."
"Nonsense," laughed Grace. "There are no such things as ghosts, and youknow it. If you're afraid you can go back and wait at your cousin's forme. She lives near here, doesn't she?"
"I will that," replied Bridget fervently, "but don't ye be too longgone, Miss Grace."
"I won't stay long," promised Grace, and hurried down the road, leavingBridget to proceed with much grumbling to her cousin's house.
The house that Bridget had so flatly refused to pass was a two-storyaffair of brick that set well back from the highway. There were rumorsafloat that a murder had once been committed there, and that theapparition of the victim, an old man, walked about at night moaning intrue ghost fashion.
To be sure no one had as yet been found who had really seen the spectreold man, nevertheless the place kept its ghost reputation and wasgenerally avoided.
Grace, who was nothing if not daring, never lost an opportunity to passthe old house, and jeered openly when any one talked seriously of the"ghost."
Now, she smiled to herself as she rapidly neared the house, at Bridget'sevident fear of the supernatural.
"What a goose Bridget is," she murmured. "Just as though therewere----" She stopped abruptly and stared in wonder at the old house.On the side away from the road was a small wing, and through one of thewindows of this wing gleamed a tiny point of light.
"A light," she said aloud in surprise. "How strange. The ghost must beat home. Perhaps I was mistaken. No, there it is again. Ghost or noghost, I'm going to see what it is."
Suiting the action to the words, Grace stole softly up the deserted walkand crouched under the window from whence the light had come. Clingingto the window ledge, she cautiously raised herself until her head was ona level with the glass. What she saw caused her to hold her breath withastonishment. Was she awake or did she dream? At one side of the roomstood a small table, and on the table, in full view of her incredulouseyes, stood the strong box which had held the bazaar money that had beenspirited away on Thanksgiving night. Bending over it, the light from hisdark lantern shining full on the lock, was the man whom she had accusedon the train.
Grace Held Her Breath in Astonishment]
Thrilled for the moment by her discovery, Grace forgot everything exceptwhat was going on inside the room. The man was making vain efforts tohit upon the combination. How long he had been there Grace had no idea.She could not take her eyes from the box which contained theirhard-earned money.
Minutes went by, but still she watched in a fever of apprehension forfear he might accidentally discover the combination. Unsuccessful in hisattempts, he finally straightened up with an exclamation of anger anddisgust. Going over to a small cupboard built in the wall, he opened it,and, stooping, pressed his finger against some hidden spring. Then thewall opened and the light from the lantern disclosed an inside recess.Lifting the box, he carried it over and deposited it in the opening, andat his touch the panel slid back into place. Quickly locking thecupboard, he placed the key in his pocket, and, extinguishing thelantern, strode towards the door.
Once outside, he passed so close to Grace that by stretching out herhand she might easily have touched him, as she lay flat on therain-soaked ground, scarcely daring to breathe.
The stranger paused to lock the door, and Grace heard him mutter: "Nicenight to send a pal out in, and on a still hunt, too. Nothing short ofsoup'll open up that claim. If the rest of the jobs he's goin' to pulloff are like this hand out, me to shake this rube joint."
The echo of his footsteps died away and Grace ventured to raise herselffrom her uncomfortable position. She peered into the blackness of thenight, but could see nothing. Rising to her feet, she stealthily circledthe house and set off at her best speed for "Heartsease."
"There'll be plenty of work for Eleanor and me to do this night," shethought. "If only she will help me now, and she must. She can't refuse.It's for the honor of the senior class."
Giving the old-fashioned knocker a vigorous pull, Grace waitedimpatiently for admittance.
"Is Miss Savelli at home?" asked Grace eagerly, the moment the maidopened the door.
"No, ma'am," answered the girl. "She and her aunt are in Oakdaleto-night. We expect them any minute now."
Grace groaned inwardly.
"What shall I do?" she asked herself. "I must get that money away fromthere to-night. To-morrow may be too late, and besides I feel sure thatthat dreadful man won't return to-night. This is our opportunity and wemustn't neglect it."
The maid eyed her curiously. "You are Miss Harlowe, aren't you?" sheasked.
"Yes," said Grace. "May I wait here for Miss Savelli?"
"Certainly, miss. Let me take your rain coat and cap. It's a terriblenight, isn't it?"
Before Grace had time to answer the click of a latchkey was heard, andthe maid said, "There they are."
Eleanor stepped part way into the hall before she became aware ofGrace's presence. A look of surprise, followed by one of extreme dislikecross
ed her face. Drawing herself up, she was about to speak, when Graceexclaimed: "Don't say a word, Eleanor, until you hear what I have tosay. I came here to-night to discuss a very personal matter with you,but something so strange has happened that I must defer what I had tosay until another time and ask you if you will help me to-night."
"I don't understand," said Eleanor coldly. "Please explain yourself."
"Eleanor," Miss Nevin interposed, "Miss Harlowe is evidently very muchagitated over something, therefore do not waste time over uselessformality. I knew you, my dear, from the picture I saw of you at Mrs.Gray's," she added, turning to Grace, with a winning smile, that causedthe young girl to love her immediately.
"Eleanor," said Grace quickly, "I have found the bazaar money that wasstolen Thanksgiving night."
"Found it!" exclaimed Eleanor incredulously. "Where?"
"At the old haunted house," replied Grace.
Then she rapidly narrated the story of her walk, her curiosity as to thelight, and the sight that it had revealed to her.
Eleanor and her aunt listened without interrupting.
"When I saw him put the money away and leave the house, I felt that hewouldn't try it again until daylight, so I came straight here," Gracecontinued. "If you will take your run-about down to the road where itruns near to the house, you and I can easily get the box and carry it tothe machine. It will take two of us, because it's very heavy. I know Ican find the secret of the panel, but we shall have to break open thedoor of the cupboard. I am not afraid, and, somehow, Eleanor, I feltthat you would have plenty of the right brand of courage."
"I am not afraid," responded Eleanor, flushing at Grace's words, "but Iknow I should never have displayed the courage that you have. I shouldnever have dared dashing up to a haunted house to investigate uncannylights."
"My dear child," exclaimed Miss Nevin, "do you suppose that I wouldallow you two slips of girls to prowl around that old house alone, on anight like this?"
"Miss Nevin," Grace's voice rose in its earnestness, "we must get thatmoney to-night, even if I have to go back there alone. It belongs to us,and we simply can't let it slip through our fingers."
"And so you shall get it," was the answer, "but with John, the coachman,for a bodyguard."
"May we go this minute?" chorused both girls.
"Yes," nodded Miss Nevin. "I'll send word to John to get out therun-about and take you at once."
Ten minutes later John, the coachman, and the two girls had squeezedinto the run-about and were making as good time to the haunted house asthe darkness would permit. The heavy outside door was found to besecurely padlocked, and the windows were locked. With two blows of thesmall axe that he had brought with him, John shattered the glass of thevery window through which Grace had peered, and, climbing in, helped thetwo girls in after him.
By the light of the two lanterns they had brought, the cupboard waseasily located and opened and a diligent search was made for the hiddenspring.
"Shall I smash in the paneling, miss?" asked the coachman.
"Perhaps you'd better," assented Grace. "I don't seem to be able to findthe key to the riddle." She endeavored to step out of John's way, and asshe did so, struck her foot smartly against the back wall of thecupboard near to the floor. There was a curious grating sound and thepanel slid back, revealing the welcome sight of the strong box reposingin the recess.
Unwittingly Grace had touched the secret spring. Both girls cried out intriumph. Then, hurrying to the window, they climbed out, ready toreceive the box. John set it on the window-sill, and, though very heavy,Grace and Eleanor combined forces and lowered it to the ground. Leapingover the sill, the coachman picked it up, and the three set off at fullspeed down the path.
The ride back to "Heartsease" was a memorable one to at least two of theoccupants of the machine. But few remarks were exchanged. Each girl wasbusy with her own thoughts. The circumstances that had brought themtogether seemed too remarkable for mere words.
"'To the victors belong the spoils,'" called Grace as she hopped out ofthe run-about before John could assist her, with Eleanor at her heels,while the coachman followed more slowly, bearing the box.
The rain was still falling, but it was doubtful whether either girl wassensible to the fact that her hair was heavy with dampness and herclothing and shoes were wet.
"My dear, you had better allow Eleanor to provide you with dry clothingand remain with her to-night," suggested Miss Nevin as they entered thehall. Then ringing for the maid, she ordered hot chocolate.
"I wish you would stay with me, Grace," said Eleanor rather shyly. "Ihave a great deal to say to you."
"And I to you, Eleanor," Grace responded.
For a moment they stood facing one another. What they saw seemed tosatisfy them. Their hands reached out simultaneously and met in a firmclasp.
"Will you kiss me, Grace?" was what Eleanor said.
"With all my heart," was the answer. And with that kiss all resentmentand hard feeling died out forever.
"You are surely going to stay with me to-night," coaxed Eleanor. "Wewill send word to your mother."
But with Eleanor's remark the remembrance of her promise to her mothercame back with a rush.
"Good gracious, Eleanor! I promised mother that I'd be home at nineo'clock. What time is it now?"
"It's half past ten," replied Eleanor, consulting her watch.
"Poor Bridget," mourned Grace. "She will be sure to think that theghosts have spirited me away. I must go this minute, before searchparties are sent out for me. But I'll see you to-morrow Eleanor, for Ineed your help."
Just then Miss Nevin, who had left the room, returned with a tray onwhich were tiny sandwiches and a pot of chocolate.
"You must have some refreshment, Grace," she said. "Eleanor, do thehonors."
Grace was made to eat and drink, then, placing herself under John'sprotection, she returned to Oakdale in Eleanor's run-about, stopping onher way home at the house of Bridget's cousin, where she found thefaithful though irate Bridget awaiting her in a state of anxietybordering upon frenzy.
"Don't fuss, Bridget," consoled Grace. "The banshees didn't get me, andyou're going to ride home in an automobile. That ought to make you feelbetter."
The prospect of the ride completely mollified Bridget, and by the timethey reached home she fairly radiated good nature.
"Your ideas of time are somewhat peculiar, Grace," remarked her motheras Grace entered the living room, where her mother and father satreading. "If Bridget had not been with you I should have been mostuneasy."
But Grace was too full of her news to make other answer than cry out:
"Oh, mother, we found it! We did, truly!"
"What is the child talking about?" asked her father. And then Gracelaunched forth with an account of her night's doings.
"Well, I never!" was all Mr. Harlowe could find words for when hisdaughter had finished.
"What shall I do with you, Grace?" said her mother in despair. "You willbe injured or killed yet, in some of your mad excursions."
"Trust to me to land right side up with care," answered Gracecheerfully.
"I'll call at the police station early to-morrow morning and have thechief send some one up to that old house," said Mr. Harlowe. "From whatyou heard the thief say, he must have a confederate. Perhaps the chief'smen will get both of them."
"Perhaps so," replied Grace, but she had a shrewd idea as to who theconfederate might be, and felt that if her suppositions were correctthere was not much chance of his incriminating himself.
Grace Harlowe's Senior Year at High School Page 21
