CHAPTER XII AN INTERLUDE
Doris and Kitty thought that the Misses Gates had finished their story,but presently, after a long pause, Iris went on with difficulty:
"After the funeral we closed the front gates and locked them. To this daythey have never been opened."
"We could not bear to remain in Rumson after all that had happened,"Azalea said quietly. "We went to Europe--Iris to France and I to Germany.There we plunged into study in the hope that it would help us to forget.Finally, when the old wound was partially healed, we once more turned toeach other and returned home."
"Then you both must be fluent linguists," Doris broke in eagerly.
"Yes," Iris agreed rather indifferently. "I speak French and Azalea hasan excellent command of German."
"Then perhaps you could help me! My singing teacher says I must studyFrench and German this summer."
"I am sure it would be a pleasure," Iris declared.
"Yes, indeed," Azalea added. "We have so little to occupy our time, andpersonally I shall be glad of an opportunity to brush up on my German."
"We have troubled you enough for one day with our unhappy history," Irissaid lightly. "Come, I will show you the rest of the garden."
Doris had hoped that the ladies would tell her why they had invited herto Locked Gates, but apparently they found it difficult to lead up to thesubject.
Three days slipped by almost before the girls were aware of it. Once theyhad accustomed themselves to the quiet life of the mansion, they found itvery enjoyable. They spent their mornings romping in the garden with Wagsand their afternoons reading or sewing. Azalea and Iris left them alone agreat deal, no doubt thinking the girls would have a better time bythemselves. However, Kitty and Doris observed that the Misses Gates spentan hour of each day on the third floor, and as the ladies always tooktheir Bible with them, they assumed that they were reading it there.
"Odd, isn't it?" Kitty commented to her chum. "You would think they couldread it in the living room as well as any other place."
"Perhaps they don't like to do it when we are around," Doris suggested.
The girls did not mean to pry, but, suspecting that Cora and Henry Sullywere aiding in a plot against the Misses Gates, they were more watchfulthan they otherwise might have been. On one occasion, as they passedthrough a hall, they chanced to hear the two engaged in conversation.
"Don't see why they keep hangin' on here unless they're wise tosomething," Henry muttered to his wife.
"What could they know?" Cora had demanded sullenly. "If you keep a closetongue in your head, nothing will get out."
"You're the one that has the wagging tongue," Henry returned crossly."I'd feel better if Trent would get back here. I'm for gittin' the thingover with as quick as we can. No telling what may queer the deal."
This snatch of conversation set Doris and Kitty to thinking anew of thesinister plot which was brewing. Yet, until they had learned more aboutRonald Trent, they did not wish to alarm the Misses Gates. Since theirarrival, Azalea and Iris had been very kind to them and had seemed toenjoy their company a great deal. Cora and Henry Sully had been mostunpleasant, especially when there was no one about to observe theirbehavior, but the girls, knowing what lay behind the sullen actions, didnot permit themselves to become annoyed.
"They mean to make it so unpleasant for us that we'll leave," Dorisdeclared. "You know, Cora was hinting today that the mansion is haunted!"
"What!"
"Yes, she said that since Mr. Gates died, they have heard strange noiseshere at night."
"Doris, do you believe the place is--"
"Of course not," Doris laughed reassuringly. "You're old enough to knowthere aren't any ghosts."
"Yes," Kitty quavered, "but this house is old, and we have been hearingstrange noises at night."
It was true that each night the girls had been disturbed by loud groansand the sound of gruff voices. Doris had wondered if Cora and Henry Sullywere trying to frighten them, for certainly it was not the wind that theyheard.
It was lonesome and gloomy in the right wing of the old mansion and thegirls had come to dread the nights. They would have been less nervous ifWags had been permitted to stay with them, but he had been consigned tothe shelter of the porch.
Several times Doris and Kitty had been tempted to tell the Misses Gateseverything they had learned, but knowing how partial the two ladies wereto Ronald Trent, they hesitated. It would be better, they decided, towait for the plotters to make the first move.
Doris had wondered if Dave would visit her at the mansion but she had notdared to hope that he would come for at least a week. On the afternoon ofthe third day she was, therefore, greatly surprised when she heard therhythmical hum of an airplane motor.
"I wonder if it can be Dave?" she exclaimed to her chum.
Eagerly they watched as the plane swept closer. Then Doris recognized thefamiliar craft and scarcely could contain her excitement. The monoplanecircled low and Dave waved to them. Finally he dropped a note to Doristelling her that he intended to come to see her soon. After that heturned back toward the airport.
"I suppose he's just out for a trial flight today," Doris declared.
When Kitty was not looking, she carefully folded the note and placed itin her pocket for future reference.
The sight of Dave, distant as it was, gave the girls a slight touch ofhomesickness, and for want of a better occupation they decided to writeback to their friends. They had the library to themselves, for as usualIris and Azalea had taken their Bible with them to the third floor.
"Jake certainly would enjoy this place," Doris commented as she sat atthe desk with pen poised. "He likes mysteries and things that smack ofthe unusual."
"Jake has had an interesting past, didn't you say?"
"Yes, Uncle Ward rescued him from a bad gang. I think Jake is stillafraid of the old leader for he never uses his real name and always seemshalf afraid that some one he knows will find him. He is absolutelydevoted to us now and would do anything in the world to help us."
"Then tell him to come down here and rid this place of ghosts," Kittyjoked.
"I'll bet he could, all right. Jake wouldn't hesitate to plow right intothem."
"Seriously, I wish he and that young man you call Marshmallow would rideout here. Perhaps they could help us to get a line on Ronald Trent."
"That's so," Doris agreed. "But why bring Marshmallow in on it? I guessyou'd like to see him yourself, wouldn't you? I noticed you two took toeach other on sight."
"I wouldn't mind seeing Marshall if he happened to be coming this way,"Kitty admitted unembarrassed. "He's so jolly and--"
"Fat!" Doris finished mischievously.
"He is a little plump," Kitty admitted, "but I don't mind that."
"We might write to Marshmallow and tell him of our experiences here,"Doris said thoughtfully. "It may be that we will need his help before weget home again."
The girls fell to writing their letters and for some time there was nosound other than the scratching of their pens. Kitty wrote home whileDoris sent messages to her uncle, to a girl friend in Chilton, to Dave,and to Marshmallow. She did not fail to include a cheery word for Jake.
Having finished their writing, the girls took the stamped letters andplaced them in the mail box where the postman would gather them up earlythe next morning. They walked slowly back toward the mansion, Wagstrotting contentedly at their heels.
Already it was dusk and the old mansion appeared wrapped in gloom. Duringthe day the ancient house seemed less austere and mysterious, but bynight it took on a character which filled the girls with uneasiness.Their imaginations tricked them into believing that shadowy forms mightlurk behind the trees. They tried to shake off the mood, but always withthe darkness it came.
"This is entirely different from Barry Manor," said Doris. "Fancy oursorority moving in here for a week-end, that surely would liven things upa bit, but would no doubt upset the
lives of these two ladies who live sosecluded and almost a hermits' existence."
"I don't see how the Misses Gates can stand to live here all the time,"Kitty said as they turned toward the side door where Wags was to be tiedfor the night. "I'd be a nervous wreck. I wish they would hurry up andtell you why they invited you here."
"So do I," Doris returned earnestly. "I am sure they haven't told us allof their story. To speak of the past revives old memories and they keepputting it off. Ronald Trent may come back any day now and I want tolearn just how matters stand before he gets here."