CHAPTER XV
QUEER MANIFESTATIONS
Curiously enough it was gentle Amy who made a remark that saved theday--or should I say night? For it was after dark.
As the girls literally shivered, following the exclamation ofGrace--shivered as much from the chilling rain as from the terrorinduced--Amy said, with such a queer intonation:
"Do you suppose that door opened itself to invite us in?"
There was a moment of silence. Then Grace giggled, Betty caught herbreath in a gasp, Mollie went into a perfect gale of laughter, andCousin Jane--well, she said it herself afterward--she snickered.
"Amy, that's the most sensible thing I've heard since this series ofmidnight adventures began," declared Mollie.
"And since the door did open to let us in, suppose we take advantage ofit," suggested Betty, "and go in."
"What--into the--the haunted house!" and Grace's voice was shrill.
"Now see here!" began Betty, and her voice was as severe as she couldmake it, for she recognized that now was the time to get the situationwell in hand. "This house is no more haunted than you are, Grace Ford."
"But--but----"
"'But me no buts,'" quoted Betty, merrily--as merrily as possible underthe circumstances. "We are going to be sensible--and--go in."
Suiting the action to the word she advanced into the hall, through whichthe wind was now sweeping in rather mournful gusts. Mollie hesitated amoment, and then followed her chum. The action of the two leaders withthe lanterns had a good effect on the others.
This might have been accounted for in two ways. The presence of Bettyand Mollie in the hall may have had its effect, or the kindly lights ofthe auto, glowing so cozily, disclosed a shelter that, whatever itsdisadvantages, at least afforded dryness.
Then, too, the taking away of the lights from the three of the party whoremained outside may have added to the effect. At any rate Grace steppedinto the hall, followed by Cousin Jane, and then timid Amy, findingherself alone on the small porch, scurried in.
"Well, we're here!" said Betty, with a smile--rather a pale effort totell the truth, but a smile nevertheless. "Now what is the next thing todo?"
"If we had only brought something to eat," sighed Grace. "And ourchocolate outfit!" for they carried one, with a small alcohol stove,that they might make a hot drink when they stopped at noon for luncheon.
"No use crying over missing chocolate," said Mollie. "We're here, undershelter, anyhow; and we can keep dry. Now if we can find anyone at homewe'll beg their hospitality for the night. Maybe they can get us ameal--if we pay for it."
"There's no one living in this house--I'm sure of that!" declared Amy."Smell the musty odor--and--see----" she pushed open a door leading fromthe hall, and directed Betty's hand so that the lantern flashed inside.The room was bare and empty. "No one at all," she insisted. "The houseis deserted."
"Well, so much the better," declared Grace. "That is, if there areno--no----" she did not finish, but looked around rather apprehensively.
"Ghosts--say it!" commanded Betty, sharply. "The oftener you use theword the less it will frighten you."
"Look here!" exclaimed Mollie. "I don't believe we're in the--thehaunted house at all."
"Why not?" demanded Grace.
"Because this isn't at all like the kind of a house a millionaire wouldbuild. It's--common. You can see for yourselves."
It did indeed seem so.
"But we were close to the end of Shadow Valley, where Kenyon's Folly wasbuilt," insisted Grace, "and we turned in nearer to it when we took thatcross-road. I'm sure it's the place."
"Well, it's a queer thing to be insisting that you are in a hauntedhouse," remarked Betty, "but I am beginning to believe now that we arenot. At least I agree with Mollie that this doesn't look at all like theplace called Kenyon's Folly."
As the storm thundered and roared about them the girls looked around thehall and room. Truly it was but a poor structure, much fallen into decaynow, yet at heart it was sound. Paint and decoration would do much torestore it.
"I think I can explain it," said Amy.
"Do then," begged Grace.
"Don't you remember, Mr. Lagg told us that there was a housekeeper'sresidence built to connect with the main structures?" she said. "Thereis a sort of covered passage, I believe, that goes to the main castle,as it were."
"Then the real haunted house must be--back there," and Grace pointedtoward where they had observed the thick trees.
"Yes. We are only in the--annex," said Betty. "But it suits me."
"If we only had something to eat and drink we would--annex that,"observed Grace. "I'm starved!"
"Let's have a look around, anyhow, as long as we are here," suggestedMollie. "We may as well stay here for the night----"
"For the night!" cried Grace.
"Yes. Where else can we go? I'm not going out in that storm again if Ican help it. We're dry here, at least. Just listen to that rain!"
"It's coming down in torrents!" exclaimed Betty. "We simply can't goout."
"And it will give us something to do to explore a bit," added Mrs.Mackson. "Come along girls. Who knows but what we may find a table allset for us by fairy hands, as we used to read of in the story books?"
They paused for a moment. Not a sound came from the rooms and passageabout them. Only the storm raged outside.
"Well, let's--let's----" began Mollie.
"Oh, come on!" cried Betty, as her chum hesitated. "At least we havelights."
"And I'm going to take off my wet coat," said Grace.
"Oh, if we could have a fire!"
"There's a fire place," said Betty, flashing her lamp into the room thedoor of which Amy had opened. "And, I do declare, some old boards andboxes! Why can't we have a fire?"
The idea appealed to all of them, and presently, taking heart, theyentered the room, and piling some boxes, splintered boards and papers onthe old hearth, set them ablaze.
As the ruddy flames leaped up the broad chimney they gathered about,much cheered, though still hungry.
"If we only had something to eat," sighed Grace. "I wonder, if by chancethe former inhabitants left some morsels of food? Suppose we take alook?"
The others hesitated a moment, and then Mollie said:
"I'm with you!"
She caught up the still-glowing auto lamp, and led the way, the othersfollowing.
"Up stairs; or down stairs?" she challenged.
"Or in my lady's chamber?" completed Betty, with a laugh.
They went through various rooms. All were deserted. Here and there theysaw discarded and broken furniture. But there was no sign of recenthabitation. The house was musty and damp, but they were glad of shelterfrom the storm.
"Only my poor auto!" sighed Mollie. "I hope nothing happens to it."
"It can stand the weather," said Grace. "What is beyond here, I wonder?"she said, as they came to a pause before a closed door.
"Let's look," suggested Betty.
Like other portals in the house this one was not locked. Betty pushed itopen, and a long passage was revealed.
"The way to--the haunted house!" exclaimed Mollie, rather dramatically.
"Hush!" begged Grace.
"Silly!" admonished Betty. "Come on."
She plunged into the passage. The echoing footsteps of the othersfollowing could be heard. She came to another door, opened it, and gavea cry of delight.
"Girls--supper!" she exclaimed, and, holding her light high up, sheflashed it on a collection of groceries. Boxes of sardines there were,dried herring, crackers, some butter in a carton, a loaf of bread,canned tomatoes and peaches, and with all some dishes--knives and forks,spoons, and, most useful of all--a can-opener, and a corkscrew--and--abottle of olives!
"Oh joy!" exclaimed Grace. "The fairy prince has been here!"
"Grace!" remonstrated Amy, as her friend caught up the bottle of olivesand proceeded to open it. "We don't know whose they are."
"So much the better; our conscien
ces won't trouble us. And if anyonecomes to claim them we can pay for what we eat--I have money!" and shejingled her silver purse, "And now, 'let good digestion wait onappetite, and health on both,'" she quoted. "Fall to!"
The girls laughed, but they did "fall to." Cans and tins were opened,crackers and slices of bread spread, and with peach juice to drink, forthey did not like to draw any water, fearing it might not be fresh--theyate--and ate--and ate again.
"Oh, how good I feel!" cried Grace, as there came a pause.
"But how in the world do you imagine this stuff got here?" asked Amy.
"Why seek to inquire?" spoke Mollie. "That it is here is sufficient forme. Another olive, Betty, dear?"
"The--our friend the ghost may have provided it," said Grace.
"You are coming on bravely," commented Betty. "If you will----"
She paused--they all did--mouths half opened. For from somewhere in thestructure came a hollow and terrifying groan, and then followed theunmistakable sound of clinking metal, while a bluish light flashedaround them. Then came another long-drawn cry--a shrill, eerie wail, andboth their lights went out, leaving them in total darkness, while thestorm shrieked about the old house, rocking it, and swaying it as thoughto tear it from its foundations.