“I’ve never seen you so excited over seeing John Hadley as you are over meeting Lily,” remarked Ethel, who was sitting on the porch with Marjorie. “I wish you showed as much love for me!”
“Why, Ethel—” began her room-mate, reproachfully.
The other girl laughed good-naturedly.
“But you seem anxious to get rid of me—to make me take a vacation—”
“That’s because I think you need it!”
“But you need one yourself!”
“You know I can’t go, Ethel, till I help the boys clear up this mystery.”
“Sometimes” remarked her companion, “I think it would be just as wise not to bother. We have only three weeks more—we’re out of debt now—and everything we make is clear profit. Why not let well enough alone?”
“Oh, Ethel, I couldn’t do it! My curiosity has the best of me. Besides, I have a new scheme up my sleeve!”
“A new scheme? What?” demanded Ethel. It seemed as if Marjorie’s brain were never idle.
“Why, we have done so well this summer in establishing a business, that I think we could ‘sell out.’ We have proved that the thing pays, so perhaps some ambitious woman might buy our trade and our equipment, if we advertise.”
“Good gracious, Marj! That’s a splendid idea! It ought to net us quite a comfortable little sum!”
“That’s what I think. But don’t you see that it would be wrong—almost dishonest—to sell a business with such a shadow hanging over it? Suppose something dreadful were to happen—wouldn’t you feel responsible?”
“Yes, I suppose I would,” Ethel admitted.
“So you see how necessary it is for us to clear the name,” explained Marjorie. “And therefore I can’t very well take a vacation. But you must—for a week, at least!”
“Well, then, I will. Come on—isn’t it time to go to meet Lily?”
“I guess it is,” replied Marjorie, consulting her watch.
The girls reached the station just as the train pulled in. Marjorie was thankful to see it on time; she hated waiting, particularly when she had so much to tell Lily.
“Aren’t you crazy to drive your car again?” asked Marjorie, when the three girls were in the roadster, with the former still at the wheel.
“Yes, but you may drive,” replied Lily. “Provided you don’t get arrested.”
“I’ll try not to,” laughed Marjorie. “Now—tell us all the news!”
“No, you tell me first! I’m terribly excited about the ghost at the tea-house. Of course I got your letter, describing your night there. Has anything happened since?”
“No, we haven’t done anything. But we are laying the plot for Saturday night.”
“Oh, Marj, you aren’t going to stay there again—all night!” Lily, with a at the very idea of the thing.
“Yes, I am, too!”
“And are you, too, Ethel?”
“No; I’ve just promised Marj to take a week’s holiday, so I’ll miss out this time.”
“Then who is going to stay there with you?” demanded Lily.
A naughty twinkle came into Marjorie’s eyes.
“I am counting on you, Lily!”
“Oh, no, Marj! Oh, I just couldn’t! I wouldn’t be one bit of use! I—”
“You’re very brave, Lily!” teased her chum.
“Well, I will if you want me to!” she sighed, .
“No, Lil dear, I don’t want you to,” Marjorie her. “In fact, I don’t want any girl to! I’m going to make use of my brother—and perhaps some of the other boys. But don’t say a word about that part of the scheme. It’s a dead secret.”
“All right,” agreed Lily. “I really do feel relieved, though.”
They talked of other things for a while—Lily’s trip; her visit to Mrs. Trawle, whose health was still improving; the picnic; and the outlook for the tea-house. Lily said that her father felt immensely proud of the for being able to repay that loan so quickly.
“He said you were such a capable little business woman, Marj, that it would be pity for you to get married,” she added.
“I’m not thinking of getting married,” replied Marjorie. “In fact, the only time I do think of it is when you mention it.”
“No, Marj has stuck pretty closely to business this summer, I will say that for her,” remarked Ethel. “Of course she sees John every day or so, but it’s all very matter-of-fact.”
When the girls reached home, Lily found a cordial reception awaiting her. Mrs. Munsen and Mrs. Hadley had offered to go down to the tea-house during the supper hour so that the scouts might have the meal together.
“Lily,” said Alice, after they were seated at the table, “I know you like parties, so, if you and Marj are willing, I want to arrange one for Friday night.”
“Yes, I love parties,” replied Lily, enthusiastically. She was thinking of the house-warming in the beginning of the summer, and of the picnic supper she had just missed.
“Well, this one would be a little out of the ordinary, but everybody likes the idea—except Marie Louise. And I think we can win her over!”
“Oh, we can’t possibly have a party that Marie Louise doesn’t approve of,” objected Marjorie. “Why, this is her house—”
“But it isn’t to be held here,” said Alice. “We thought of using the tea-house!”
“Yes! Yes!” cried Marjorie, her eyes sparkling with delight at the prospect of something .
“Not after that warning!” protested Lily in horror.
“I guess if Marj can plan to spend another night there—practically alone,” said Alice, “we could afford to take a chance in a crowd. Besides we might make some discoveries.”
“Tell us your idea, Alice!” urged Marjorie.
“Well, I’d like for us all to go down to the tea-house after supper Friday night—with Mrs. Hadley and Mrs. Munsen, but not any of the boys—and invite that medium that Marie Louise and I consulted, and try some table-moving and spirit-rapping stuff. She ought to be able to tell whether it is all a fake. And then, if nothing happens, we can end up just like an ordinary party, with ice-cream and cake.”
“What fun!” cried Florence, in delight. “I think that’s a great idea, Alice.”
“But can you get the medium?” asked Ethel.
“Yes, I’m sure we can, if we pay her enough. And we can all put together.—What do you, say Marj?”
“I’m game!” replied the latter, instantly.
Accordingly, Alice went ahead with her arrangements as soon as she was able to win Marie Louise and Mrs. Munsen to agreement. She was sorry to have Ethel miss the party by leaving the day before for her vacation, but fortunately Daisy Gravers arrived to take her place. The time was set for half-past eight on Friday evening.
The girls managed to close the tea-room rather early that night, but encountered severe in attempting to chase the boys away.
Join or Log In!
You need to log in to continue reading
(Left Keyword <-) Previous:
CHAPTER XVI ANOTHER DISAPPEARANCE
Back
Next:
CHAPTER XVIII A GHOST IN THE FLESH
(Right Keyword:->)