The Outdoor Girls in a Motor Car/Chapter 15
CHAPTER XV
QUEER MANIFESTATIONS
Curiously enough it was gentle Amy who made a remark that saved the day—or should I say night? For it was after dark.
As the girls literally shivered, following the exclamation of Grace—shivered as much from the chilling rain as from the terror induced—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 her breath in a gasp, Mollie went into a perfect gale of laughter, and Cousin Jane—well, she said it herself afterward—she snickered.
"Amy, that's the most sensible thing I've heard since this series of midnight adventures began," declared Mollie.
"And since the door did open to let us in, suppose we take advantage of it," 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 could make it, for she recognized that now was the time to get the situation well 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 under the circumstances. "We are going to be sensible—and—go in."
Suiting the action to the word she advanced into the hall, through which the wind was now sweeping in rather mournful gusts. Mollie hesitated a moment, and then followed her chum. The action of the two leaders with the lanterns had a good effect on the others.
This might have been accounted for in two ways. The presence of Betty and Mollie in the hall may have had its effect, or the kindly lights of the auto, glowing so cozily, disclosed a shelter that, whatever its disadvantages, at least afforded dryness.
Then, too, the taking away of the lights from the three of the party who remained outside may have added to the effect. At any rate Grace stepped into the hall, followed by Cousin Jane, and then timid Amy, finding herself alone on the small porch, scurried in.
"Well, we're here!" said Betty, with a smile—rather a pale effort to tell the truth, but a smile nevertheless. "Now what is the next thing to do?"
"If we had only brought something to eat," sighed Grace. "And our chocolate 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, under shelter, anyhow; and we can keep dry. Now if we can find anyone at home we'll beg their hospitality for the night. Maybe they can get us a meal—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 from the 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 house is deserted."
"Well, so much the better," declared Grace. "That is, if there are no—no" she did not finish, but looked around rather apprehensively.
"Ghosts—say it!" commanded Betty, sharply. "The oftener you use the word the less it will frighten you."
"Look here!" exclaimed Mollie. "I don't believe we're in the—the haunted house at all."
"Why not?" demanded Grace.
"Because this isn't at all like the kind of a house a millionaire would build. 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 was built," insisted Grace, "and we turned in nearer to it when we took that cross-road. I'm sure it's the place."
"Well, it's a queer thing to be insisting that you are in a haunted house," remarked Betty, "but I am beginning to believe now that we are not. At least I agree with Mollie that this doesn't look at all like the place called Kenyon's Folly."
As the storm thundered and roared about them, the girls looked around the hall and room. Truly it was but a poor structure, much fallen into decay now, yet at heart it was sound. Paint and decoration would do much to restore 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's residence built to connect with the main structures?" she said. "There is 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 pointed toward 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," suggested Mollie. "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 I can 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 go out."
"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 all set 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 passage about 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 have lights."
"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 the door of which Amy had opened. "And, I do declare, some old boards and boxes! Why can't we have a fire?"
The idea appealed to all of them, and presently, taking heart, they entered the room, and piling some boxes, splintered boards and papers on the 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 chance the former inhabitants left some morsels of food? Suppose we take a look?"
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 others following.
"Up stairs; or down stairs?" she challenged.
"Or in my lady's chamber?" completed Betty, with a laugh.
They went thorugh various rooms. All were deserted. Here and there they saw discarded and broken furniture. But there was no sign of recent habitation. The house was musty and damp, but they were glad of shelter from 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 it open, and a long passage was releaved.
"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 others following could be heard. She came to another door, opened it, and gave a cry of delight.
"Girls—supper!" she exclaimed, and, holding her light high up, she flashed 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—a bottle of olives!
"Oh joy!" exclaimed Grace. "The fairy prince has been here!"
"Grace!" remonstrated Amy, as her friend caught up the bottle of olives and proceeded to open it. "We don't know whose they are."
"So much the better; our consciences won't trouble us. And if anyone comes to claim them we can pay for what we eat—I have money!" and she jingled her silver purse, "And now, 'let good digestion wait on appetite, 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, for they did not like to draw any water, fearing it might not be fresh—they ate—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 for me. 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 the structure came a hollow and terrifying groan, and then followed the umistakable sound of clinking metal, while a bluish light flashed around them. Then came another long-drawn cry—a shrill, eerie wail, and both their lights went out, leaving them in total darkness, while the storm shrieked about the old house, rocking it, and swaying it as though to tear it from its foundations.