THE GHOST CAUGHT
“When do you expect to hear about little Dodo?” asked Grace, as the
girls sat together on a log in front of the fire, “like roosting
chickens,” Will was ungallant enough to remark.
“Almost any day now,” replied Mollie. “They were to wait for the most
favorable time for the operation, and the specialist, so mamma wrote,
could not exactly fix on the day. But I am anxious to hear.”
“I should think you would be. Poor little Dodo! I’d give anything to
hear her say now ‘Has oo dot any tandy?’”
“Don’t,” spoke Betty in a low tone to Grace, for she saw the tears in
Mollie’s eyes.
“It was the strangest thing how Stone and Kennedy should turn out to be
the two chaps in the auto,” remarked Will, to change the subject. “And
you have never let on that Grace was the girl on the horse?”
“Never,” answered Amy. “Don’t say after this that girls can’t keep a
secret.”
Frank was to watch the first part of the night, to be relieved by
Allen, and the latter by Will.
“For, from what the girls say, Prince has been in the habit of coming
rather late,” Will explained, “and he’s more likely to let me catch him
than if you fellows tried it. So I’ll take last watch.”
Frank’s vigil was unrewarded, and when he awakened Allen, who sat up,
sleepy-eyed, there was nothing to report. Allen found it hard work to
keep awake, but managed to do so by drinking cold coffee.
“Anything doing, old man?” asked Will, as, yawning, he got on some of
the clothes he had discarded, the more comfortably to lie down on the
cot.
“Something came snooping around about an hour ago. At first I thought
it was the horse, and went out to take a look. But it was only a fox, I
guess, for it scampered away in the bushes. I hope you have better
luck.”
“So do I. Dad wants those papers the worst way. If I could get them for
him I’d feel better, for I can’t get over blaming myself that it was my
fault they were lost. It was, because I shouldn’t have sent Grace for
them when I knew how important they were.”
Allen went to his cot, and Will took up his vigil. For an hour he sat
reading by a shaded lantern, so the light would not shine in the faces
of his chums. Then, when he was beginning to nod, in spite of the
attractions of the book, he heard a noise that brought him bolt upright
in the chair.
“Something is coming!” he whispered. He stole to the edge of the board
platform, and cautiously opened the flap of the tent. The box
containing oats and sugar had been placed a little distance away, in
plain view.
“That’s Prince!” exclaimed Will, for in the moonlight he saw a white
horse eating from the box. The “ghost” had arrived.
Will resolved to make the attempt alone. He stepped softly from the
tent, and made his way toward the horse. He had on a pair of tennis
shoes that made his footsteps practically noiseless. Fortunately,
Prince, should it prove to be that animal, stood sideways to the tent,
his head away from it, so that he did not see Will. The boy tried to
ascertain if there was a saddle on the horse, but there was the shadow
of a tree across the middle of his back, and it was impossible to say
for sure.
Nearer and nearer stole Will. He thought he was going to have no
trouble catching him, but when almost beside Prince, for Will was
certain of the identity now, he stepped on a twig, that broke with a
snap.
With a snort Prince threw up his head and wheeled about. He saw Will,
and leaped away.
“Prince, old fellow! Prince! don’t you know me?” called the boy, and he
gave a whistle that Prince always answered.
The horse retreated. Will held out some sugar he had ready for such an
emergency.
“Prince! Prince!” he called. The horse stopped and stretched out his
head, sniping. Prank and Allen came to the tent opening. “Keep back!”
called Will, in even tones. “I think I have him. Prince! Come here!”
The horse took a step forward. He sensed his master now. Will advanced,
speaking gently, and a moment later Prince, with a joyful whinny, was
nibbling at the sugar in the boy’s hand. Then Will slid the other along
and caught the mane. The bridle was gone.
“I have him!” cried Will. “Bring the rope, fellows.”
Prince was not frightened now. He stood still. Will led him into the
full moonlight. Then he exclaimed:
“The saddle is gone!”