THE FUN BEGINS
At about half past seven o'clock that night the boys who had been
invited to the party began to arrive at the Brown's home where they were
met at the door by a figure in white. It had queer rabbit ears, made
from tying up the corners of a pillow slip that had been placed over its
head. The eyes were holes cut in the slip.
The large hall was lighted by many candles set in hollowed-out pumpkins
which had queer grinning faces cut in them.
"Wow, but this is spooky," giggled Fat, at which the other boys laughed.
Now the figure in white, which was really Toad, asked the boys to follow
him as he led them to Father Brown's study. Here they were met by Chuck,
also in white.
"Good evening, Mr. Ghost," greeted Reddy, bowing low.
"How do," nodded the ghost and Chuck could scarcely keep from laughing
as he added in a deep voice, "Put on these slips and hurry up," pointing
to a pile of them on the floor.
"Oh, I know who you are," laughed Fat, "but I won't tell," and he
hastened to scramble into a pillow slip, which he twisted around his
head until he got the slits for the eyes in the right place.
"My ears are longer than yours are," boasted Herbie, as he danced about.
"All the better to hear you, my dear," laughed Linn Smith.
As all were now ready, Chuck led the queer looking party of long-eared
figures into the library where they were met by Father and Mother Brown
dressed in black gowns with tall witches' caps on their heads. There was
a large black pot hanging in the fireplace and Mother Brown began to
stir something in it with a long iron spoon.
Fat walked directly over to the fireplace and peeped into the pot.
"If ghosts had noses," he sniffed, "I'd say that smelt awfully good."
Father Brown now went about, pinning a number on each boy's back.
"What's that for?" asked Hopie.
"Well, you all look so much alike," laughed Mr. Brown, "that I can't
tell you apart. And," after a pause, "there's going to be a prize for
this game."
"That's great," shouted Herbie, "hope I get it."
Chuck now left the room, returning a moment later with a huge pumpkin
which he placed on a chair in the corner.
"Who's number one?" he asked, at the same time lifting high into the air
the stem of the pumpkin, which had been cut off close to its base.
[Illustration: "Keep perfectly still," whispered Chuck as Hopie came
toward them.]
"I am," announced Hopie Smith from his place before the fire where he
had been helping Mother Brown stir the contents of the great black pot.
"Well, hurry and come over here, if you're first," called Toad, "and
I'll turn your slip around so you can't see."
"Here's the stem," said Chuck, placing it in Hopie's outstretched hand.
Father Brown now took Hopie by the shoulders and slowly turned him
around again and again.
"I believe you've had enough turns to wonder where you are," he said,
adding, "now see if you can place the stem on the pumpkin."
Hopie started off, both hands held out before him.
"You musn't feel anything with your hands," called Herbie, "it isn't
fair."
"All right," was the answer as he walked straight for the corner where
Fat was sitting, watching the fun.
"Keep perfectly still," whispered Chuck in Fat's ear, as Hopie drew
near, then as he paused before Fat and placed the stem upon his head the
boys broke into shouts of laughter.
"Oh, you pumpkin head," gasped Reddy.
Hopie pulled off his pillow slip and stared in wonder about him, then he
too laughed.
"I was so sure I had it on the pumpkin!" he exclaimed.
"Better be careful, Fat," warned Toad, "If mother takes you for a
pumpkin she'll put you in a pie."
Numbers two, three and four hadn't much better luck for Herbie stuck the
stem on the center table, Chuck on a book stand and Reddy tried very
hard to put it into the pot but Mother Brown held out her hand just in
time to save it from falling in.
Linn's turn came next.
"Watch me," he said. "I'm going to do it."
"Bet you don't," challenged Reddy.
Then Father Brown gave him a few quick turns and away he started. After
taking two or three steps forward he paused, then, stretching out his
hands he walked slowly toward the fireplace. When he had reached it he
turned about and faced the room.
"Now, I know where I am," he thought, "I'll walk right over to the
corner by the door."
"Look," whispered Chuck to Herbie, "he knows where he's going, all
right."
Each boy held his breath as Linn drew closer and closer to the chair
which held the pumpkin. Then as his knees struck against the edge of it
he stopped and placed the stem on the top of the pumpkin.
"Good for you, Linn," cried Toad. "I didn't think you could do it."
"Oh, it was easy," boasted Linn. "The heat of the fire told me where the
fireplace was, then when I turned and faced the other way I knew I only
had to walk to the left to reach this corner."
"Here's the prize," announced Chuck, stepping up to Linn and handing him
a box.
"Hurry up and open it," cried Hopie, "we want to see what's in it." And
as the lid came off the box, Linn exclaimed:
"A baseball, just what I've been wanting," and he tossed it up into the
air.
"That's as lively as a cricket," commented Herbie, as he caught the ball
and bounced it on the floor.