Copyright, MCMXXXIV
The Saalfield Publishing Company
Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS
[I Pat’s Chance] 5 [II Anne] 16 [III “Hill Top”] 27 [IV The Alley Gang] 37 [V Moss] 48 [VI A Meddler] 59 [VII A Fall] 71 [VIII Jack or Tut?] 84 [IX A Tough Proposition] 95 [X Jack in Danger] 103 [XI Aunt Betsy to the Rescue] 115 [XII On Duty] 123 [XIII A Fire] 131 [XIV An Investigation] 139 [XV Under Arrest] 149 [XVI A Picnic] 159 [XVII A Robbery] 177 [XVIII A Week End] 188 [XIX A Weird Experience] 200 [XX The Reward] 214 [XXI Pat’s Sacrifice] 222 [XXII Clarice] 235 [XXIII Solutions] 242
THE MYSTERY OF
ARNOLD HALL
CHAPTER I
PAT’S CHANCE
“Will you go, Patricia?” called Mrs. Randall from the living room, one cool evening late in August, as the doorbell rang imperatively. “I’m starting a fire in the grate.”
From the dining room across the hall, where she had been putting away the last of the supper dishes, hurried a tall slender girl, whose short wavy yellow hair and big brown eyes were set off to perfection by a green jersey dress. Expecting to see one of the neighbors when the door was opened, she was startled into an involuntary gasp as a messenger thrust forward a special delivery letter, inquiring curtly—“Miss Patricia Randall?”
“Y—es.”
“Sign here.”
Patricia signed his book, closed the door, and walked slowly into the living room staring down at the unexpected missive in her hand.