“’Tis done!” cried Ada Slope, dramatically.
Oh, poetic justice! For the chosen one was Billie!
CHAPTER XIV—A BLOOD-STAINED HANDKERCHIEF
The next problem was to find the candle for the “ghost” to carry up to the gloomy heights of tower number three. Ada Slope, little minx that she was, had chosen this particular one of the three towers for which the Hall was named, because of a legend among the girls, starting from goodness knows where, that this tower was haunted.
Now Billie was not by any means a coward, and she had proved by her behavior in the spooky old mansion at Cherry Corners that she was not inclined to belief in or fear of ghosts.
Yet when Ada Slope ran hastily up to her room and returned bearing a tiny Christmas candle, which was all that Billie was to have to accompany her on her perilous journey, it must be admitted that her heart began to beat a little faster and she was guilty for a moment of wishing that Ada Slope had picked on any other girl but herself.
However, she acted so perfectly that there was not one of her chums but who thought that she was delighted at the chance to explore the gloomy old tower—with one little candle for company!
“Suppose—” she thought to herself as Laura lighted the candle for her—or at least she thought it was Laura; they all looked pretty much alike in their ghostly robes—“suppose it should go out when I reach the top of the tower and I should have to find my way back in the dark!”
“Courage,” Rose Belser cried, as she pushed Billie toward the door, the candle flickering in her hand. “There are those who say that tower number three is haunted. But let me remind you, friend, that a ghost is never afraid of a ghost. Farewell!”
This was not a very encouraging speech, though Billie could not help giggling about it as she climbed the back stairs to the first floor.