CHAPTER XIII. BELLING THE GHOST
There was a sharp, cold wind that afternoon and so Nann suggested thatthey make a big fire on the hearth in the living room and write letters.Miss Moore had told them that she wished to be left alone.
"We have used up nearly all of the wood in the shed," Nann said as shebrought in an armful.
"There's lots of driftwood on the shore. Let's gather some tomorrow,"Dories suggested as she made herself comfortable in a deep, easy willowchair near the jolly blaze which Nann had started. "Now I'm going towrite the newsiest kind of a letter to mother and brother. I supposeyou'll write to your father."
Nann nodded as she seated herself on the other side of the fireplace,pencil and pad in readiness. For a few moments they scribbled, thenDories glanced up to remark with a half shudder, "Do hear that mournfulwind whistling down the chimney, and here comes the fog drifting in soearly. If it weren't for the fire, this would be a gloomy afternoon."
Again they wrote for a time, then Dories glanced up to find Nann gazingthoughtfully into the fire. "A penny for your thoughts," she called.
Nann smiled brightly. "They were rather a jumble. I was wondering if, byany chance, you and I would ever meet the wee girl and the handsomelittle boy who sailed away on the Phantom Yacht; then, too, I waswondering who was playing a practical joke on us."
"Meaning what?"
"Why the notes, of course." Nann folded her finished letter, addressedthe envelope and after stamping it, she glanced up to ask, "Why not tellme now, how you intend to trap the joker."
"You mean the spook. Well this is it. I found a little bell today. Onethat Aunt Jane used, I suppose, to call her maid in former years."
Nann's merry laughter rang out. "I've heard of belling a cat," she said,"but never before did I hear of belling a ghost."
Dories smiled. "Oh, I didn't mean that we were to catch the--well,whoever it is that leaves the messages, first, and then hang a bell onhim. That, of course, would be impossible."
"Well, then, what is your plan?"
But before Dories could explain, a querulous voice from the adjoiningroom called, "Girls, its five o'clock! I do wish you would bring me mytoast and tea. The air is so chilly, I need it to warm me up."
Contritely Dories sprang to the door. She had entirely forgotten heraunt's existence all of the afternoon. "Wouldn't you like to have part ofthe supper that Nann and I will prepare for ourselves?" she asked. "We'llhave anything that you would like."
"Toast and tea are all I wish, and I want them at once," was the ratherungracious reply. And so the girls went to the kitchen, made a fire inthe stove and set the kettle on to boil.
"Goodness, I'd hate to have nothing to eat but tea and toast day in andday out," was Dories' comment. Then to her companion, "It's your turn tochoose from the cupboard tonight and plan the supper."
"All right, and I'll get it, too, while you wait on Miss Moore."
An hour later the girls had finished the really excellent meal which Nannhad prepared, and, for a while, they sat close to the kitchen stove tokeep warm. The wind, which had been moaning all of the afternoon aboutthe cabin, had risen in velocity and Dories remarked with a shudder thatit might be the start of one of those dismal three-day storms about whichGib had told them.
"It may be as terrible as that hurricane that swept the sea up over thewall and undermined old Colonel Wadbury's house," she continued, bent, itwould seem, on having the picture as dark as she could.
"Won't it be great?" Nann smiled provokingly. "You ought to be glad, forsurely the spook that carries the lantern down on the point will be blownaway." Then, chancing to recall something, she asked, "But you haven'ttold me your plan yet. How are you going to bell the ghost?"
"My plan is to hang a little bell on the knob after we have locked ourdoor. Then, of course, if we have a midnight visitor, he won't be able toenter without ringing the bell," Dories explained.
"Poor Aunt Jane, if it does ring," Nann remarked. "How frightened shewill be."
Dories drew her knees up and folded her arms about them. "Well, I dobelieve that we would be most scared of all," she said.
"Then why do it?" This merrily from Nann. "And, what's more, if it is aghost, it will be able to slip into our room without awakening us.Whoever heard of a ghost having to stop to unlock a door?"
"Maybe not," Dories agreed, "but if we are going to have any realenjoyment during our stay in this cabin, we must frighten away the ghostthat seems to haunt it. I think my plan is an excellent one and, atleast, I'd like to try it."
"Very well, maiden fair." Nann rose as she spoke. "On your head be theresult. Now, shall we ascend to our chamber?"
Taking the lantern, she led the way, and Dories followed, carrying asmall bell. When the loft room was reached the lantern was placed on atable. Nann carefully locked the door and, removing the key, she placedit by the lamp.
Then she held the small bell while Dories tied it to the knob. This done,they hastily undressed and hopped into bed.
"Let's leave the light burning all night so that we may watch the bell,"the more timid maiden suggested.
How her companion laughed. "Why watch it?" she inquired. "We surely willbe able to hear it in the dark if it rings. There is very little oil leftin the lantern, so we'd better put the light out now, and then, if alongabout midnight we hear the bell ringing, we can relight it and see whoour visitor may be."
"Nann Sibbett, I'm almost inclined to think that you write those messagesyourself, just to tease me, for you don't seem to be the least bitafraid." This accusingly.
"Honest, Injun, I don't write them!" Nann said with sudden seriousness."I haven't the slightest idea where the messages come from, but I do knowthat whoever leaves them does not mean harm to us, so why be afraid? Nowcuddle down, for I'm going to blow out the light."
Dories ducked under the quilt and, a moment later, when she ventured topeer out, she found the room in complete darkness, for, as usual, a heavyfog shut out the light of the stars.
"How long do you suppose it will be before the bell rings?" shewhispered.
"Well, I'm not going to stay awake to listen," Nann replied, but she hadnot slept long when she was suddenly awakened by her companion, who wasclutching her arm. "Did you hear that noise? What was it? Didn't it soundlike a faint tinkle?"
The two girls sat up in bed and stared at the door.