Well, Ive known him longer than you have, Flapper, and Im not so surprised at his wanting a sporting proposition. But, I say, Milly, if were going to take Tracy, you people ought to see him and give him the once over first. Maybe you wont like him at all.
Oh, your friends are sure to be our friends, Rudolph, said Landon, but telephone him to run up here, cant you? Its only fair to let him in on the planning.
Tracy came, and he made good at once. His ministerial air was softened by a charming smile and a certain chivalry of address that pleased the women and satisfied the men.
What about servants? he asked, after the main details had been explained to him.
Thats what Im thinking about, said Milly. I dont want to take our servants, theyd be scared to death in such a place, and, too, we cant go ghost hunting under Charles nose! Hed sniff at us!
Right you are! agreed Landon. Charles is one estimable and valuable butler, but hes no sort to take on the picnic were out for.
Dont lets take any servants, suggested Eve, but get some up there. Natives, you know.
That would be better, said Mr. Bruce. Then, theyll be used to the place, and can tell us of the legends and traditions, you see.
Youre poking fun, said Eve, reproachfully, but its true, all the same. Do we go in motors?
I think so, said Landon. Two big cars would take us all, and we can leave our luggage to be sent up if we stay.
Of course well stay, asserted Milly. I love that old house already, and if theres no ghost at all, Ill be just as well pleased, and Ill stay the month out, with whoever wants to stay with me.
Ill stand by you, said Norma, and Ill own up that I dont really expect any spectral manifestations up there, anyway.
It matters little what you expect, and Professor Hardwick looked at her thoughtfully. Were going investigating, not expecting.
Dont you expect anything, Prof? asked Vernie, gaily.
What do you mean by expect, child? Do you mean wish or think?
Gracious, goodness, Professor! I never know what I mean by the words I use, and I never care!
Professor Hardwicks hobby was the use of words, and rarely did he fail to question it, if a word was misused or uncertainly used in his presence. But he smiled benignly on the pretty child, and didnt bother her further.
Finally, the men drew together to make up the budget of necessary expenses and the women talked clothes.
Smocks all round, said Norma, who loved the unconventional in dress.
Not for me! said Eve, who didnt.
Milly giggled. Let every one wear just what she chooses, she settled it. Im at my best in white linen in the summer time, but what about laundry? Well, I shall leave two sets of things packed, and then send for whichever I want.
Norma, uninterested in clothes, edged over toward the men. Though a friend of the Landons and acquainted with Professor Hardwick, she had never met Braye or Tracy before.
Both succumbed to her sure-fire smile, but Tracy showed it and Braye didnt.
Sit here, Miss Cameron, and Tracy eagerly made a place for her at his side; we need a lady assistant. How much do you think it ought to cost to provision nine people and two or three natives for a month?
It isnt a question of what it ought to cost, returned Norma, but what it will cost. But in any case it will be less than most of us would spend if we went to the average summer hotel. So why not just put down some round numbers, divide em by nine and let it go at that?
Fine! approved Landon. No food dictator could beat that scheme! I wonder if ghost-hunters are as hungry as other hunters, or if well be so scared well lose our appetites.
I have a profound belief in ghosts, Norma asserted, but I shall only indulge in it between meals. Count me in for all the good things going, three times a day.
What do you mean by profound? asked the Professor; deep-seated or widely informed?
Both, answered Norma, flashing her pretty smile at the serious old man. Profundity of all kinds is my happy hunting-ground, and on this trip I expect to get all the profundity I want.
And Im the girl to put the fun in profundity, cried Vernie, coming over to them. My mission is to keep you serious people joyed up. Mr. Tracy, your profession wont interfere with your having a jolly time, will it? No, I see it wont, by that twinkly little smile.
You may count on me, said the clergyman a bit stiffly, but with a cordial glance at the girl.
And I can wind Professor Hardwick round my finger, Vernie went on, for a companion on a gay lark, I dont know any one better than a dry-as-dust old college professor!
The object of this encomium received it with a benignant smile, but Gifford Bruce reproved his saucy niece.
Ill leave you at home, miss, if you talk impertinences, he declared.
Not much you wont, my bestest, belovedest Uncle! Why, Im the leading lady of this troupe. And I expect the spectre will appear to me first of all. Thats my motto: Spect the Spectre! Hows that? Then the rest of you can inspect the spectre!
Vernie! dont be so excruciatingly funny, begged Braye, while Milly Landon giggled at the pretty child, whose charm and sweetness took all rudeness from her foolery.
Perhaps we ought to call in an inspector to inspect the spectre, contributed Landon.
There, there, Wynne, said Braye, well take such stuff from an ignorant little girl but not from a grown-up man.
Ignorant, huh! scorned Vernie. Ill bet you couldnt have passed my examination in psychology!
Perhaps not, admitted Braye, but after this trip of ours, well all be honour men.
I want it thoroughly understood, said Mr. Bruce, that I range myself on the side of the sceptics. I dont want to sail under false colours and I wish to state positively that there are no ghosts or phantasms or any such things. Moreover, I announce my intention of fooling you gullible ones, if I can.
Oh, that isnt fair! exclaimed Landon. I dont believe in the things either, but I want an honest test. Why, you take away the whole point of the experiment if youre going to put up a trick on us!
No, no, Bruce, said the Professor, that wont do. Come, now, give me your word therell be no hocus-pocus or I refuse to go at all.
If its any sort of a real test, Hardwick, it oughtnt to be possible to fool you.
Thats true, said Eve; and Im not afraid of any tricks. If they are tricks, Ill know it
I too, said Norma. Im sensitive to all psychical manifestations and if I cant tell a real phantasm from Mr. Bruces tricks, I deserve to be fooled.
I think its a good thing that Mr. Bruce warned us, observed John Tracy. It puts us on our guard. But I think the rest of us ought to agree not to do anything of that sort. We can expect and discount Mr. Bruces little game, but if others are going to do the same, it seems to me the game isnt worth playing.
Right you are! declared Landon, and forthwith everybody present except Gifford Bruce solemnly pledged his or her word to do nothing tricky or fraudulent, and to preserve an open-minded, honest attitude toward any developments they might experience.
And with eight argus-eyed inquirers watching him, Mr. Bruce cant put anything over, opined Landon, and the others agreed.
CHAPTER III
Black Aspens
Though mid-July, it was a chilly dusk through which the two motor cars ascended the last stretch of mountain road toward the old Montgomery mansion. The sun set early behind the Green Mountains and the house, half-way up an eastern slope, appeared faintly through the shadows.
To the right, tall forest trees waved their topmost branches with an eerie, soughing sound, or stood, menacingly silent, in black, sullen majesty. Beneath them a tangled underbrush gave forth faint, rustling hints of some wild life or suddenly ceased to a grim stillness.
Then the road lay through a thick grove of aspens, close, black and shivering as they stood, sentinel like and fearsome, only dimly outlined against the dark, clouded sky. Once in the grove, the shadows were dense, and the quivering sounds seemed intensified to a muttered protest against intrusion. A strange bird gave forth a few raucous notes, and then the dread silence returned.
A quick, damp chill foreboded still water and the road followed the margin of a small lake or pond, sinister in its inky depths, which mirrored the still blacker aspen trees.
Suddenly, in a small clearing, they came upon the house. In the uncertain light it seemed enormous, shapeless and beyond all words repelling. It seemed to have a personality, defiant and forbidding, that warned of mystery and disaster. Aspen trees, tall and gaunt, grew so close that their whispering leaves brushed the windows, and crowded in protecting, huddled clumps to ward off trespassers.
No lights showed through the deep caverns of the windows, but one faint gleam flickered above the entrance door.
Whew! cried Landon, jumping from his seat with a thud on the stone terrace, I wont go through that woods again! Ill go home in an aeroplane, and Im ready to go now!
So am I, said Milly, in a quivering, tearful voice. Oh, Wynne, why did we ever come?
Now, now, cheered Braye, keep your heads, its all right. Only these confounded shadows make it impossible to know just where were at. Heres the house, and by jinks, its built of marble!
Of course, said the Professor, who was curiously feeling of the old ivy-grown stone, this is the marble country, you know. Vermont marble was plenty enough when this house was put up.
Lets get in, begged Vernie. It isnt as much fun as I thought it would be.
They went, in a close group, up a short flight of broad marble steps and reached a wide portico, in the centre of which was a spacious vestibule indented into the building, and which stood within the main wall. Though the walls of the house were of marble, those of this vestibule were of panelled mahogany, and the entrance doorway was flanked on either side by large bronze columns, which stood half within and half without the mahogany wall.
Some house! exclaimed Tracy, in admiration of the beautiful details, which though worn and blackened by time, were of antique grandeur. These bronze doors must have come from Italy. Theyre marvellous. Im glad I came.
Oh, do get in, Wynne, wailed Milly. You can examine the house to-morrow. I wish we hadnt come!
Landon was about to make search for knocker or bell, when one of the big bronze doors swung open, and a man peered out.
You folks here? he said, a bit unnecessarily. Bring another lamp, Hester.
Yes, were here, Landon assured him, and we want to get in out of the wet!
Rainin? and the man stepped out of the door to look, blocking all ingress.
No! thats a figure of speech! Landons nerves were on edge. Open that door, the other one, let us in!
Go on in, whos henderin you? and the indifferent host stepped out of the way.
Landon went in first and Braye followed, as the others crowded after. At first they could see only a gloomy cavernous hall, its darkness accentuated by one small lamp on a table.
Thought I wouldnt light up till you got here, and the man who had admitted them came in and closed the door. Im Stebbins, and heres the keys. This is the house youve took, and Hester here will look after you. Ill be goin.
No, you wont! and Landon turned on him. Why, man, we know nothing of this place. You stay till I dismiss you. I want a whole lot of information, but not till after we get lights and make the ladies comfortable.
Comfortable! At Black Aspens! Not likely. The mocking laugh that accompanied these words struck terror to most of his hearers. Nobody told me that you folks came up here to be comfortable.
Shut up! Landons temper was near the breaking point. Wheres that woman with the lamps? Wheres the man I engaged to look after things?
Hester, shes here. Shell be in in a minute. Thorpe, thats her husband, hes goin to be a sort of butteler for you, he cant come till to-morrow. But Hester, shes got supper ready, or will be, soons you can wash up and all.
Hester came in then, a gaunt, hard-featured New England woman, who looked utterly devoid of any emotion and most intelligence.
Stebbins, on the other hand, was apparently of keen perceptions and average intellect. His small blue eyes roved from one face to another, and though he looked sullen and disagreeable of disposition, he gave the effect of one ready to do his duty.
All right, he said, as if without interest, Ill set in the kitchen and wait. Hester here, shell take the ladies to their rooms, and then after you get your supper, Ill tell you all you ask me. But I rented this place to you, I didnt agree to be a signboard and Farmers Almanac.
All right, old chap, and Landon smiled faintly, but dont you get away till I see you. Now, girls, want to select your rooms?
Y-Yes, began Eve, bravely, and then a glance up the dark staircase made her shudder.
What we want is light, and plenty of it, broke in Braye. Here you, Hester, Ill relieve you of that lamp youre holding, and you hop it, and get more, six more, twelve more hear me?
We havent that many in the house. Dull-eyed the woman looked at him with that sublime stolidity only achieved by born New Englanders.
Oh, you havent! Well, bring all you have and to-morrow you manage to raise a lot more. How many have you, all told?
Four, I think.
Four! For a party of nine! Well, have you candles?
Half a dozen.
And three candlesticks, I suppose! Bring them in, and if youre shy of candlesticks, bring old bottles, or anything.
Good for you, Braye, didnt know you had so much generalship, and Gifford Bruce clapped his nephew on the shoulder. Im glad I dont believe in ghosts, for every last one of you people are shaking in your shoes this minute! Whats the matter with you? Nothing has happened.
It was that awful ride through the woods, said Vernie, cuddling into her uncles arm. I l-like it, I like it all, but, the local colour is so so dark!
Thats it, Kiddie, said Braye, the local colour is about the murkiest I ever struck. But here are our lights, hooray!
Hester brought two more small hand lamps, and after another trip to the kitchen brought six candles and six battered but usable candlesticks.
A candle was given to each of the four women, and Norma politely selected the oldest and most broken holder.