TWO GHOSTS.
The colony on the south shore of Lake Placid was about to break up. Cold
weather was setting in. Already many of those who had spent much of the
summer there were gone. Others were going. Soon that region would be
left entirely to the hunters and the fishermen.
Before returning to the city the cottagers had planned a last grand time
in the form of a masquerade dance. They did not call it a "ball." There
was to be nothing formal about it.
Thus it happened that the party at Warren Hatch's cottage received an
invitation.
Mrs. Medford was tired; she would not attend the dance; but she offered
to assist the girls in getting up their costumes.
"Costumes!" cried Inza. "Where will we find them? We'll have to go
without special preparation in that line. Frank and Bart are the lucky
ones."
"Come with me," smiled Mrs. Medford, after consulting in a low tone with
Mr. Hatch, who smiled and nodded. "Perhaps we can find something."
The girls followed her to the upper part of the cottage, leaving Frank
and Bart to make up below.
Merry gave Bart his choice of the two rigs, and Hodge took the Indian
outfit, leaving the cowboy costume for Frank.
At intervals the sound of laughter came from above, indicating that the
girls were making progress.
Mrs. Medford came down first and announced that the girls would follow
in two or three minutes.
"They are putting on the finishing touches," she said.
She professed to be alarmed by the fierce appearance of Merriwell, who
swaggered toward her in "chaps," woolen shirt, and wide-brimmed hat, a
loose belt about his waist, with a pistol peeping from the holster,
while his face was hidden by a mask in keeping with the rest of his
outfit.
"It's a whole lot tired we're getting of waiting for them yere gals,
madam," said Frank. "I opine they'd better hurry some, for we'll have to
hike right lively if we shake a hoof at this dance to-night."
Then Hodge danced forward in his Indian rig, flourishing a tomahawk and
uttering a war whoop.
"Heap right," he cried. "White woman bring gals."
"Mercy!" gasped Mrs. Medford, retreating toward the table and suddenly
turning the lamp very low.
Then came a rustling sound on the stairs, followed by a low moaning, and
into view glided two ghostly figures in flowing robes of white. These
figures paused in a corner of the room where the shadows were deepest,
and the surprised witnesses seemed to see through their white draperies
the gleaming outlines of the upper portions of two skeletons. The ribs,
the waving, bony arms, and the horrible, shining skulls were plainly
beheld. After a moment the two apparitions advanced.
"Heap spook!" cried Hodge, while Frank pretended to be greatly alarmed.
Browning sat bolt upright, uttering a grunt of surprise.
As the forms came forward into the dim light the skeleton figures faded
and disappeared.
"I reckon these are the real things, Injun," said Frank.
"Much so," nodded Bart.
Then the girls broke into laughter and Mrs. Medford turned up the lamp.
With the aid of two sheets, a needle and thread and a few pins, Mrs.
Medford had made some very ghostly garments for the girls, fitting them
with a skill which partly revealed and partly concealed the graceful
outlines of the wearers. Eyelets had been cut, and the general effect
was indeed striking.
"But the skeletons we saw?" questioned Frank.
"A little phosphorus produced them," explained Mrs. Medford. "I drew the
skeleton outlines on the sheets with phosphorus. Of course they'll be
visible only in the dark."
"Mrs. Medford, you're a wonder!" declared Hodge. "Now we're all right.
There'll be ghosts abroad in the Adirondacks to-night."
After a general inspection of their costumes, the party prepared to
start.
"Almost wish I had decided to go," confessed Browning. "But I'll stay
here and take care of Mrs. Medford."
"If you wish to go, I can take care of her," assured Warren Hatch.
"It's too late now," said Bruce quickly. "Besides that, it's quite a
walk over there, and I'd get tired of dancing in short order. I'll stay
here and rest."
They paused a moment on the veranda. The night was very still, and the
moon was just rising above the treetops, silvering the mirror-like
surface of the lake.
From far away on the southern shore came the sound of music and they
could see the gleaming lights.
"Take care of those girls, boys," called Mrs. Medford. "If anything
happens to them I'll never forgive myself for letting them out of my
sight."
"Don't worry," advised Frank. "You may rest assured that they are quite
safe in our care. We'll guard them with our lives, but there is no
possibility of danger to-night."
Little he knew what would happen before the night passed.